Sweden’s Angeldal, Holland’s Leuchter each score 2 vs. Portugal, Switzerland

London, Jul 17 (EFE).- The Swedish women’s national soccer team crushed Portugal 5-0 in Eurocup 2022 action on Sunday, assuring itself the top spot in Group C, thereby sidestepping France in the quarterfinals.

The Swedes, ranked No. 2 in the world, knowing what it had cost Holland to defeat the Portuguese 3-2, played a very serious match and had a sensational first half during which they eliminated any hopes their rivals had had about getting into the quarterfinals.

The Portuguese – who only made it into the tourney after Russia was expelled in May – were simply not at all imposing on defense and an error by goaltender Patricia Morais allowed Filippa Angeldal, who plays for Manchester City, to score in the 21st minute, and 24 minutes later she made it 2-0.

Carole Costa scored an own-goal in first-half extra time for the 3-0, and – with the game well in hand – the Swedes’ Kosovore Asllani made it 4-0 from the penalty spot and Stina Blackstenius sealed the deal in the 90th minute with a 15-yard blast for the 5-0 result.

The Swedes will now face Iceland, Belgium or Italy in the quarterfinals, whichever team emerges as No. 2 in Group D, dominated by France.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday, The Netherlands downed Switzerland 4-1 at Bramall Lane on a sweltering hot day with Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic scoring an own-goal to hand the Dutch women the lead soon after the intermission, although Geraldine Reuteler equalized almost right away for the Swiss.

Romee Leuchter hit the net twice in the final 10 minutes of the match, with Victoria Pelova scoring in between those two tallies – and being credited with the goal after a lengthy VAR review – for the 4-1 result.

The Dutch squad, defending champions in the Eurocup and finishing second in Group C, needed only a draw to head into the quarterfinals, but they have now established what looks to be an exciting matchup with France.

Switzerland, meanwhile, had had to hope that Sweden would not lose to Portugal and to go all out for the win in their own match, seeing only one half of the equation pan out.

Meanwhile, England – the host nation for the tourney – and eight-time Eurocup champs Germany each have won all their matches so far and have not allowed a single goal to be scored against them.

EFE msg/arh-apa/bp