Sweden sink Russia at women's Euro

Deventer (Netherlands) (AFP) – Captain Lotta Schelin and Stina Blackstenius powered Sweden to a 2-0 win over Russia at the women’s European Championship in the Netherlands on Friday.

Schelin scored Sweden’s opening goal on 22 minutes in Deventer, heading in a superb free-kick taken by Magdalena Ericsson.

Blackstenius made it 2-0 in the 51st minute as she picked up a poor goal kick by Russian keeper Tatiana Shcherbak, beat two defenders and fired a shot that Anna Kozhnikova only managed to deflect into the net off the post.

Russia could have secured a quarter-final berth if they had won, following their surprising 2-1 win over Italy in the Group B opener.

But they never got close as Sweden put them under heavy pressure from the very beginning, with Kosovare Asllani’s long-range shot smacking the crossbar on 10 minutes.

It took Russia half an hour to threaten up front, but Elena Danilova missed from long range.

At the other end, Schelin shot narrowly wide across goal and Linda Sembrant headed wide from a corner just before half-time.

Sweden continued to dominate in the second half but squandered their chances, with Sembrant heading against the post five minutes from the end.

In the other Group B game, holders Germany are due to take on Italy in Tilburg later on Friday.