Asllani gets OK to play, helps Sweden take third
Sweden 2, England 1
NICE, France — Kosovare Asllani set Sweden on its way to a 2-1 victory over England for third place in the Women’s World Cup on Saturday night, but the midfielder almost didn’t get to play in the game.
Asllani was taken off the field on a stretcher during Wednesday’s semifinal loss to the Netherlands following a head injury and was taken to a hospital. The 29-year-old revealed that as late as Friday she was told that she wouldn’t be able to play.
“(Friday), I got a ‘no’ about playing from our medical staff, but we did the test again today and it was positive,” an emotional Asllani said. “I felt it was going to take a lot for me to miss this game.”
It was a third bronze medal for Sweden, which also finished as the runner-up in 2003.
Asllani gave the Swedes the lead in the 11th minute as they took advantage of early struggles by England.
England back Alex Greenwood had plenty of time to clear Fridolina Rolfo’s cross but sent it straight into the path of Asllani, who drilled it into the bottom right corner. England goalkeeper Carly Telford got a hand on it but couldn’t keep it out of the net.
Sweden was up 2-1 when Asllani was substituted out at halftime.
Sofia Jakobsson had doubled Sweden’s lead before England got back into the game, with Fran Kirby halving the deficit in the 31st minute when she cut in from the right, beat her defender and curled the ball in off the base of the left post.
Ellen White thought she had tied the score two minutes later, but her goal was ruled out after the video review determined there had been a handball. The forward had also had what would have been an equalizing goal ruled out in the semifinal loss to the United States.
“I’m disappointed with a few decisions that have happened, but that’s VAR and that’s football, so you just got to get on with it,” White said.
Had the goal stood, White would have moved to the top of the goal standings in the race for the Golden Boot before Sunday’s final between the United States and the Netherlands.
White has scored six goals, the same as Alex Morgan — who has more assists — and one more than Megan Rapinoe.
All but one of Morgan’s goals came in the 13-0 victory over Thailand.