Spot-on Sweden reach semis

Sweden needed penalty kicks to eliminate Italy after a nail-biting 3-3 draw in Borna left them locked together on points, goal difference and goals scored in Group A.

Late leveller
Sweden triumphed 4-1 on penalties after Italy forced them by scoring a dramatic equalising goal in added time. The Italians took the lead through Agnese Ricco before Nilla Fischer and Yolanda Odenyo struck fine goals to put the Swedes ahead. Within a minute Coppolino made it 2-2 before Hodan Siid-Ahmed thought she had won it for the Scandinavians with another fine goal.

Dangerous midfielders
The Swedes were always in control, though Italy looked dangerous on the counterattack throughout, with midfield player Elisa Camporese behind most of their most cutting play. Maria Nordbrandt shot the first chance wide on the back of Caroline Seger's industry, while Coppolino and Ricco combined for Italy's best opening before they scored in the 41st minute. Ricco was the player on target after Maria Edman had tipped a Raffaella Manieri free-kick on to the bar.

Fine goals
Fischer showed great vision to make it 1-1 in the 55th minute, chipping Chiara Marchitelli from over 30 metres. Seven minutes later Anna Signeul's side were ahead, Nordbrandt created it by dissecting two Italian defenders with a great pass which the on-rushing Odenyo drilled in. Their lead was short lived, though, as Coppolino caught Edman by surprise in the next attack to level things up again.

Almgren returns
Johanna Almgren returned as a substitute after injuring herself in the opening defeat by England, and she crossed the ball in from the right for Sweden's third goal, a stunning acrobatic volley by Siid-Ahmed. In the 82nd minute Camporese went close with a free-kick and Italian pressure told in the second minute of added time when Giulia Domenichetti beat Edman with a cross-shot from an acute angle.

Siid-Ahmed clincher
Both sides had been practising penalties in training before the game, and Sweden's effort paid off as they dominated the shoot-out. They went 2-0 up after Manieri missed in between goals from Fischer and Odenyo, and 3-1 ahead after Almgren scored and Martina Cortesi flicked a post. Siid-Ahmed had the honour of scoring the winning penalty to set up a semi-final meeting with Norway on Friday.