Sweden and South Africa had the honor of kicking off the action both in the Games of the XXXI Olympiad and in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Stadium. Sweden maintaining a proud record of appearing in every Olympic women’s football tournament alongside the USA and Brazil, despite not actually qualifying for the tournament. The Scandinavians took the place of the English Lionesses, the number one European team at last summer’s World Cup who were unable to compete due to the ancient anomaly of separate FAs within the same country.

After Sofia Jakobsson smashed a shot against the crossbar in the fifth minute, the experienced Swedes dominated possession without ever playing at a pace to stretch South Africa. Relying on crosses to break down their smaller opponents, Sweden found Roxanne Barker in the South African goal, regularly charging off her line to claim the ball, a formidable presence.

Roared on by the Cariocas whenever they crossed the halfway line, the Banyana Banyana never produced the link-up play their individual’s skill and pace threatened rendering the Swedish goalkeeper, Hedwig Lindahl a spectator until the 71st minute when she was nearly caught at the near post by Makhabane’s cross

The Swedes upped the tempo in the second half with Rolfo and substitute Elin Rubenssson injecting some youthful pace and vigour into their attack. Schelin poked over from Rolfo’s cross and Rubensson had a shot smothered. It was from a corner won by Rubensson’s pace and taken by the same player that the breakthrough eventually came. Barker allowed two crosses to slip through their fingers, the second from Seger was cleared from the behind the line and forced into the net from close range by Nilla Fischer.

Pia Sundhage thus completed a twelfth successive win in Olympic football stretching back to 2008 but on the evidence of this match, the chances of her collecting a third Gold Medal, following her two successes with the USA, seem remote.