Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson described Amanda Ilestedt as a candidate for the Women’s World Cup golden boot after the towering defender scored twice together with her head in a 5-0 thrashing of Italy on Saturday that booked her nation’s berth within the final 16. A good contest was blown open in a seven-minute spell late within the first half when the Swedes, ranked third on the planet, discovered the web 3 times, by way of Ilestedt, Fridolina Rolfo and Stina Blackstenius.

Arsenal centre-back Ilestedt bagged her second quickly after the interval to offer her three objectives for the match — all headers from corners — together with a late match-winner of their opening 2-1 defeat of South Africa.

Substitute Rebecka Blomqvist rounded out the rout in stoppage time in entrance of almost 30,000 in Wellington.

The Swedes are assured of ending within the prime two in Group G, changing into the third group to e book a spot within the knockout stage after Spain and Japan.

It was a flexing of the muscular tissues from one of many match favourites, who’ve a historical past of near-misses on the World Cup.

Their set-piece prowess was on full present, with three of the objectives coming from left-footed inswinging corners delivered by Jonna Andersson.

Gerhardsson admitted corners are an essential a part of his group’s assault.

“Set pieces are very much structure and it’s also technique and then it’s courage,” he stated.

“The service is very important and Jonna is very good at this and has been doing it for many years.

“And we hope Amanda will go all the way in which and win the golden boot.”

‘Unreal’ for Ilestedt

Ilestedt was surprised by her prolific start to the tournament after being named player of the match for a second straight game.

“It feels a bit unreal however I’m more than happy,” she said.

“Maybe I did not anticipate three objectives however I do know that is considered one of my strengths and it is one thing we’re engaged on quite a bit at coaching.”

Sixteenth-ranked Italy, who suffered their heaviest defeat in 14 World Cup matches, went into half-time shellshocked after enjoying the better of the early stages.

Having opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Argentina, their tournament will be over if they lose their final group match against South Africa on Wednesday.

Coach Milena Bertolini conceded they were overwhelmed by Sweden’s physicality after a strong start.

“They are very robust, they’re very bodily and so they’re very expert, particularly with their set items,” she said.

“They have quite a lot of weapons, quite a lot of arrows of their quiver.

“The first half-hour, we actually gave them a hard time… we were a bit fragile mentally because after two goals, we were not able to stay calm.”

Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic was examined by two sharp early strikes from Sofia Cantore, the one change to Italy’s beginning aspect.

However, the Swedes started to gel and the floodgates opened within the thirty ninth minute when the 1.78-metre Ilestedt leapt to look residence Andersson’s pinpoint nook.

Barcelona star Rolfo, who was a doubt for the sport with a knee niggle, bagged her second objective of the match when Italy could not clear from one other nook.

Arsenal striker Blackstenius made it three in first-half stoppage time when she stabbed residence after Johanna Kaneryd’s cross wasn’t cleared.

A leaping Ilestedt scored her second 5 minutes after the break and, as Italy wilted, Blomqvist went by way of on objective one on one for quantity 5.

Sweden, who’ve now certified for the knockout part in eight of 9 World Cup appearances, will play their remaining group sport in opposition to Argentina in Hamilton on Wednesday.

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