The women’s football team is now just one successful two-leg tie away from a place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil. A decisive World Cup playoff awaits in November-December against either Scotland or the Czech Republic.
After Friday’s first leg in Lithuania, the tie was practically decided. Sweden won 5–0 after the home team failed to register a single shot, either on or off target.
At home at Strawberry Arena in Solna, in front of 10,309 spectators, Malmö FF goalkeeper Zecira Musovic made a long-awaited return between the posts after becoming a mother in August last year.
In her first international match since December 2024, the 30-year-old had little to do. Lithuania, ranked 93rd in the world, failed to register a single shot on target against Sweden this time either.
Eighth-ranked Sweden created the most scoring chances, and the goals came pouring in. In the 11th minute, captain and centre-back Nathalie Björn made it 1–0 via a Lithuanian player.
Striker Stina Blackstenius was left out of the starting lineup last time but scored as a substitute. This time, she started and headed in the 2–0 goal in the 16th minute.
Smilla Holmberg made it 3–0 and Hanna Lundkvist added the fourth - the match was only half an hour old.
On Friday, the rising star Felicia Schröder came into the spotlight when she scored her first goal for the senior national team in her 12th international match. The 19-year-old Real Madrid striker left the field in Kaunas with a hat-trick.
In the return leg, Schröder scored her fourth and fifth career goals for Sweden as the team went into the break with a 6–0 lead.
The scoring continued in the second half. Stina Blackstenius extended the lead to 7–0 early on, Amanda Ilestedt headed in the eighth, and with just over 20 minutes left, Lithuania’s goalkeeper Meda Seskute was credited with an own goal after heading the ball into her own net following a header from Blackstenius.
Ilestedt added another goal to make it a crushing 10–0 win and 15–0 on aggregate.
Scotland and the Czech Republic kicked off at 8:10 p.m. and are currently tied 1–1, with Scotland leading 3–1 on aggregate.
