Group 2: Sweden power past Finland

SFF - SPL-FBFUEFA Women's Championship runners-up Sweden lived up to their billing as favourites to secure top spot in Group 2, and a place in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, by trouncing Finland 8-1 in Umeå in their opening game.

Two own goals
Marika Domanski Lyfors's Swedish side secured the three points in style, although they received plenty of help from their Scandinavian neighbours, the Finns scoring two own goals and conceding a penalty.

Surprising leveller
Victoria Svensson opened the scoring ten minutes in at the Gammliavallen stadium before Finland surprisingly levelled eight minutes later, striker Terhi Uusi-Iuomalahti scoring from the spot. However, parity was short-lived, with Sweden scoring four further first-half goals to go in 5-1 up at the interval.

Svensson's second
Malin Moström made it 2-1 on 21 minutes before Malin Andersson scored Sweden's penalty three minutes later. Hanna Ljungberg extended the home side's advantage four minutes before the break and there was still time for Svensson to score her second of the game before the half drew to a close.

Scoring completed
Sweden eased off after the break but went further ahead through Sari Seppänen's own goal on 71 minutes. Goalkeeper Satu Kunnas also put through her own net three minutes from time, eight minutes after Anna Sjöström had made it 7-1.