Sweden left it late to see off Chile 2-0 at a rain-soaked Roazhon Park in Rennes on June 11, the 15,875 fans present braving stormy conditions which saw a delay to a FIFA Women's World Cup Finals match for the third time in the tournament's history. The players were off the park for 43 minutes during the second spell, with thunder and lightning making an appearance to supplement the torrential rain which began to cascade down around the hour mark, in stark contrast to the sunshine which bathed the ground during the first 45 minutes. The Swedes dominated play throughout this contest, but rarely tested Chile's highly competent custodian Christiane Endler, who was ably supported in her work by her defenders, Javiera Toro in particular. The nuggety little left-back thwarted Sweden's first attack in the third minute, preventing Caroline Seger's wicked ball in from reaching Sofia Jakobsson, who whipped in a sixteenth minute cross beyond all-comers after working a one-two down the right with impressively performed fullback Hanna Glas. Kosovare Asllani then miscued a volley on receipt of Stina Blackstenius' whipped cross, before the roles were reversed in the twentieth minute, Asllani deftly evading three challenges in a tight area before firing in a cross which Endler grabbed before Blackstenius could capitalise upon it. Endler produced the save of the tournament so far in the 26th minute. Magdalena Eriksson whipped in a corner which Linda Sembrandt headed towards goal. Nilla Fischer was lurking some three yards from the target when she re-directed the ball, but Endler's lightning-quick reaction saw her plunge to her left to shovel the sphere one-handed off the line - a fabulous stop! Endler's life was being made a lot easier than should have been the case by Sweden's profligate attacks, with Elin Rubensson the next yellow-clad player to direct efforts at the 'keeper after the half-hour mark. Eight minutes before the interval, Seger sent Fridolina Rolfo dashing down the left, from where she picked out Blackstenius with a cross, the striker beating the fast-approaching Endler to the ball. But she was at full stretch when doing so, and couldn't control her shot, the sphere sailing over the crossbar. Chile's resistance so far had been purely defensive, but midfielder Karen Araya took it upon herself to show the world that they weren't just there to mount a rearguard action. In the 39th minute, she set up Maria Urrutia for a shot which rattled the stanchion, while Araya herself let rip from thirty yards on the stroke of half-time, the ball narrowly clearing the hitherto untested Hedvig Lindahl's right-hand post. In between these efforts, Sweden squandered a glorious chance to open the scoring. Seger - a masterly midfield display - fed Asllani with an inviting pass which prompted a delicious cross to match. The beneficiary was Blackstenius, but she somehow headed over from six yards when scoring seemed the far easier option. Chile's resolute defensive effort continued unabated after the interval. The charging figure of Seger fed Rolfo, who powered past two opponents then saw

her shot deflect to safety off Carla Guerrero. Then came the rain, steady at first, then torrential, with fans scrambling for covered seating while the players got absolutely soaked through as play continued. After Seger had seen a shot blocked, with Eriksson curling the rebound narrowly over the bar from the edge of the area, Mexican referee Lucila Venegas quite rightly called a halt to proceedings in the interests of player safety, eighteen minutes from time. Once the storm had passed, and the players had had the chance to warm up again, play resumed, and it was clear during the interval that Swedish coach Peter Gerhardsson had taken the chance to give his players a right royal rev-up, because his charges showed a far greater degree of intent than had been evident before the temporary stoppage in play. Endler was instantly called into action, tipping a teasing Jakobsson curler over the bar before punching clear the resulting corners from Asllani and Eriksson. The 'keeper then saved at the feet of Fischer after Seger had masterminded a clever free-kick routine which featured Sembrandt's deft flick round the corner. With seven minutes remaining, Sweden finally made the breakthrough. Sembrandt and Fischer combined to bring freshly introduced substitute Madelen Janogy into play on the edge of the area. She squeezed the ball through for fellow substitute Anna Anvegard, but Camila Saez reacted first, only to see her clearance rebound off the Swede straight to Asllani, who lashed the ball into the top corner of the net from eight yards to shatter Chile's resistance. The scorer then looked to supply Jakobsson with the chance to net a second goal, but her lob of the advancing figure of Endler cleared the crossbar, as did Francisca Lara's shot on the turn at the other end of the park as the game entered stoppage time. Sweden made certain of victory four minutes into stoppage time with what is certain to be a contender for the "Goal of the Tournament" award. Asllani won the ball in midfield, and Janogy was onto it in a flash, surging forward then taking on and beating four opponents before smashing the ball past the diving figure of Endler and into the top corner of the net. It was a bright note on which to end an otherwise dull Swedish display, one made so as much by their own poor finishing as by Chile's obdurate defensive efforts as they made their Women's World Cup Finals debut. They performed creditably, and in Endler have a real star in their ranks. The Swedes are well served in that regard, with Seger and Asllani their star turns in a match which saw the late introduction of substitute Janogy change the game - one hopes she'll get the chance to show what she can do over the course of ninety minutes sooner rather than later, because she looks to be a very exciting prospect indeed. Chile:          Endler; Galaz, Guerrero (booked, 78), Saez, Toro; Araya, Aedo (Soto, 84), Lara; Zamora, Urrutia (Lopez, 59 (booked, 90)), Balmaceda Sweden:     Lindahl; Glas, Fischer, Sembrant, Eriksson (booked, 67); Rubensson (Janogy, 81), Asllani, Seger; Jakobsson, Blackstenius (Anvegard, 65), Rolfo (Hurtig, 65) Referee:     Lucila Venegas (Mexico)