Center back Amanda Ilestedt’s golden boot bid shows Sweden’s set piece strength
After Sweden’s 2-1 win over Japan in its World Cup quarterfinal, a journalist asked Amanda Ilestedt when she would ask her coach to move her up the field to play as a striker. The Swedish center back laughed and said, “I already did (move up the field).”
Ilestedt currently leads Sweden in goals scored (four) and is one of four players tied for second place in the tournament’s golden boot race. The reasoning is quite simple, Sweden effectively uses its set piece opportunities and Ilestedt is in the right place at the right time.
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“Set pieces are very important. Amanda is very good there. (She) can score goals in different ways,” Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson said. “Old fruits in trees when they fall down, you have to pick them up. That’s what we did in the last game (scoring goals from the set pieces).”
All but one of Ilestedt’s goals have come from headed corner kicks. The goal Gerhardsson referred to as “old fruits in trees” falling down was the one against Japan. Kosovare Asllani sent a free kick into the box and Nathalie Björn and Magdalena Eriksson both attempted shots, but it was Ilestedt who cleaned up from close range.
SWEDEN STRIKES FIRST!
The Blue and Yellow take the lead thanks to Amanda Ilestedt
Read on theathletic.com
