Teenage substitute Hanna Bennison scored the winning goal as Sweden overcame Switzerland to earn their first victory at Euro 2022.
Among the tournament favourites, Sweden ensured their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals remain in their own hands heading into their final match against Portugal on Sunday.
Everton midfielder Bennison produced a fine finish from the edge of the penalty area with 11 minutes remaining to send Peter Gerhardsson’s side top of Group C.
The game had sparked into life early in the second half as Barcelona forward Fridolina Rolfo slotted in at the end of a sweeping team move to end Switzerland’s stern resistance.
But Switzerland, forced to cancel training on Monday after nine players suffered from a stomach bug, responded less than two minutes later when Bachmann curled in at Bramall Lane.
Rebecka Blomqvist had two late finishes ruled out for offside but Switzerland were unable to force a late equaliser and remain on one point after two matches.
Defending champions the Netherlands face Portugal in the other Group C match later on Wednesday (20:00 BST).
Bennison brings relief for Sweden
Given their status as the best-ranked European side – placed second in Fifa’s world rankings – there are high expectations of Sweden at Euro 2022.
Seeking a statement win in Sheffield following their opening 1-1 draw with defending champions the Netherlands, the Olympic silver medallists initially struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against compact opposition.
They survived an early scare as Switzerland were awarded a penalty following Magdalena Eriksson’s challenge on Noelle Martiz.
But Eriksson was deemed to have made enough contact with the ball before colliding with Martiz – and Spanish referee Marta Huerta de Aza overturned her decision after being advised to review the incident.
Despite offering the greater attacking threat, Sweden were frustrated in their first-half attempts to force a breakthrough, while there was a rare moment of concern at the back as Nathalie Bjorn produced a last-ditch block with Bachmann threatening to punish a loose Eriksson pass.
The 2017 quarter-finalists were rewarded for a fast start to the second period, though, with Rolfo having already curled narrowly wide before finishing from Asllani’s pass after 53 minutes.
It took 92 seconds for that advantage to be wiped out, however, as Lindahl punched a cross into the path of the alert Paris Saint-Germain forward Bachmann.
Sweden continued to push for a winner and, with the pressure beginning to mount, the 19-year-old Bennison delivered a moment of huge relief with a composed finish to significantly boost her side’s hopes of progress.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
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Sweden
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Squad number1Player nameLindahl
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Squad number4Player nameGlas
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Squad number13Player nameIlestedt
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Squad number14Player nameBjörn
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Squad number6Player nameEriksson
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Squad number16Player nameAngeldahl
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Squad number17Player nameSeger
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Squad number8Player nameHurtig
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Squad number9Player nameAsllani
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Squad number18Player nameRolfö
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Squad number11Player nameBlackstenius
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Squad number15Player nameBlomqvist
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Squad number19Player nameRytting Kaneryd
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Squad number20Player nameBennison
Switzerland
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Squad number1Player nameThalmann
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Squad number5Player nameMaritz
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Squad number18Player nameCalligaris
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Squad number15Player nameBühler
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Squad number19Player nameAigbogun
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Squad number9Player nameCrnogorcevic
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Squad number8Player nameMaendly
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Squad number13Player nameWälti
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Squad number6Player nameReuteler
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Squad number11Player nameSow
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Squad number10Player nameBachmann
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Squad number4Player nameRinast
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Squad number16Player nameMauron
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Squad number20Player nameHumm
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Squad number22Player nameRiesen
Line-ups
Sweden
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lindahl
- 4Glas
- 13Ilestedt
- 14Björn
- 6Eriksson
- 16AngeldahlSubstituted forBennisonat 68′minutes
- 17Seger
- 8HurtigSubstituted forRytting Kanerydat 68′minutes
- 9Asllani
- 18Rolfö
- 11BlacksteniusSubstituted forBlomqvistat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Andersson
- 3Sembrant
- 5Nildén
- 7Kullberg
- 10Jakobsson
- 12Falk
- 15Blomqvist
- 19Rytting Kaneryd
- 20Bennison
- 21Musovic
- 22Schough
- 23Rubensson
Switzerland
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Thalmann
- 5Maritz
- 18Calligaris
- 15Bühler
- 19AigbogunSubstituted forRinastat 59′minutes
- 9Crnogorcevic
- 8MaendlySubstituted forMauronat 68′minutes
- 13Wälti
- 6ReutelerSubstituted forRiesenat 59′minutes
- 11Sow
- 10BachmannSubstituted forHummat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Stierli
- 3Marti
- 4Rinast
- 7Xhemaili
- 12Peng
- 14Kiwic
- 16Mauron
- 17Folmli
- 20Humm
- 21Friedli
- 22Riesen
- 23Terchoun
- Referee:
- Marta Huerta de Aza
- Attendance:
- 12,914
Live Text
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Match ends, Sweden 2, Switzerland Women 1.
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Second Half ends, Sweden 2, Switzerland Women 1.
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Kosovare Asllani (Sweden) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Nadine Riesen (Switzerland Women).
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Attempt blocked. Kosovare Asllani (Sweden) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rebecka Blomqvist.
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Foul by Fridolina Rolfö (Sweden).
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Noëlle Maritz (Switzerland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Sweden. Fridolina Rolfö tries a through ball, but Rebecka Blomqvist is caught offside.
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Foul by Hanna Bennison (Sweden).
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Nadine Riesen (Switzerland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Hanna Glas (Sweden).
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Rachel Rinast (Switzerland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Caroline Seger (Sweden).
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Sandrine Mauron (Switzerland Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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VAR Decision: No Goal Sweden 2-1 Switzerland Women.
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GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Rebecka Blomqvist (Sweden) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.
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Kosovare Asllani (Sweden) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Rachel Rinast (Switzerland Women).
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Attempt missed. Kosovare Asllani (Sweden) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Rebecka Blomqvist.
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Corner, Switzerland Women. Conceded by Hanna Bennison.