FIFA Women´s World Cup: Sweden 2 France 1

Substitute Marie Hammarstrom scored late to lift Sweden to a 2-1 win over France in the FIFA Women’s World Cup third-place game on Saturday.

Hammarstrom picked out the top corner of the net with an unstoppable left-footed strike in the 82nd minute, clinching bronze for Sweden at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in Sinsheim.

Lotta Schelin had earlier put Sweden ahead on the half hour before substitute Elodie Thomis pulled one back for France 11 minutes into the second half.

The win was all the more remarkable given the victors went down to 10 players in the 68th minute, following the dismissal of Josefine Oqvist.

The striker saw a straight red for confronting France midfielder Sonia Bompastor on the touchline after a rough piece of play between the pair.

The send-off undeniably handed the advantage to France, who were level on the scoresheet following Thomis’ equaliser.

She had been on hand to collect a clever give from Gaetane Thiney after the striker drew Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl out of position.

The substitute tucked the ball between Lindahl and the right post to even the ledger.

Schelin, a team-mate of Thomis’ at Lyon, had earlier given Sweden the advantage with a deft finish underneath the onrushing Berangere Sapowicz in the 32nd minute.

Sapowicz had to be substituted shortly afterwards with an injured ankle, with Celine Deville coming off the bench to wear the goalkeeper gloves.

Japan take on the United States in the gold medal game in Frankfurt on Sunday.