Selin inspires Sweden’s 3 – 2 comeback against Finland

UPPSALA — Sweden overturned a two-goal half-time deficit to beat Finland 3 – 2 in the women’s U23 international at Studenternas on Thursday, 8 October. A difficult opening half gave way to a decisive Swedish recovery, with substitute Nova Selin at the centre of the turnaround.

Finland took control of the scoreline through Wilma Forsblom, who scored both of the visitors’ first-half goals. By the interval, Sweden faced a 0 – 2 deficit and needed three unanswered goals to leave with a victory. KuPS’ report of the match confirms both Forsblom’s double and Finland’s half-time advantage.

The second half brought a striking change in fortunes. Selin came on at the break for her U23 debut and scored the goal that brought Sweden back into contention. Rather than ending as a consolation, it became the first step in a comeback that was settled in the closing stages.

According to Fotbollskanalen’s match report, Selin equalised in the 85th minute and then supplied the assist for Ellen Wangerheim’s winner shortly afterwards. The AIK midfielder therefore contributed to all three Swedish goals: two finishes of her own and the final pass for the Manchester United forward.

For Finland, the outcome meant losing a lead built before half-time. For Sweden, it was the substitutes who supplied the decisive scoring contributions: Selin and Wangerheim had both been named among the replacements in Magnus Wikman’s starting-lineup announcement.

The match was part of Sweden’s October gathering, before the team travels to Bremen to face Germany in the opening game of its WU23 Friendlies campaign. The result gives that next fixture a different backdrop from the one Sweden faced at the interval in Uppsala.

Dino Studio’s photographs accompany this report, showing the players, team gatherings and a moment on the touchline. The match chronology above is drawn from the linked reports; the photographs are our own.