Women get masterclass from Swedes

THE Scotland Women’s players were on the receiving end of a football masterclass on Saturday afternoon at Stark’s Park as slick Sweden showed just why they are amongst the favourites to win Olympic gold.

On a day when Scotland goalkeeper and captain, Gemma Fay, won her record-breaking 142nd cap, there was little to celebrate for the hosts as Sweden eased to a 4-1 victory.

The World Cup semi-finalists had already threatened the Scottish goal on a number of occasions before Lotta Schelin directed a Malin Levenstad cross beyond Fay after just 13 minutes. Sweden soon doubled their lead by exploiting a dozing Scottish defence as Schelin collected a long ball downfield before firing under Fay.

The near 1200 crowd feared an embarrassing afternoon but, in time added on at the end of the first half, the Scots were handed a lifeline as Rachel Corsie was bundled over inside the Swedish penalty area and Kim Little converted the spot kick.

However, any hope of a Scotland comeback failed to materialise after the interval as Sweden retained complete control and the impressive Sofia Jakobsson netted a brace.

“We made them look better than they are,” rued Scotland’s Swedish boss Anna Signeul afterwards.