France Women 2–1 Sweden: Mbock Bathy’s Last‑Minute Header Secures UWNL Third‑Place Playoff Lead

In the biting cold of a Reims evening, with the threat of extra time casting a heavy shadow, Griedge Mbock rose to meet Sakina Karchaoui’s perfectly flighted cross. It was a moment that seemed to hang in the air, the decisive final stroke of a tense, attritional contest for third place in the UEFA Nations League. As her header found the net in the sixth minute of stoppage time, the Stade Auguste-Delaune burst into life, the roar carrying more than just celebration: it was pure, unfiltered relief. France had led through a late first-half penalty, only to be pegged back by Sweden’s spirited second-half fightback. With the score level and the game slipping towards another gruelling half-hour, victory appeared to be drifting out of reach. Yet in one sweeping moment, they seized it. For a resilient Swedish side, who had hauled themselves back into the match with determination and a well-taken equaliser, the outcome was as cruel as it was sudden. They had battled fiercely and shown enough to suggest they deserved more than a narrow, last-gasp defeat, but football, at its most unforgiving, offered no reprieve.

1st Half Overview

The first half was a real arm-wrestle, with France soaking up the home crowd’s energy in Reims and bossing possession without really carving out many golden opportunities. Sweden’s defense was rock-solid, keeping things tight and forcing the French into long-range pops and set-piece scraps. It looked like we’d head into the break all square, which would’ve been about right for such a cagey game. But right at the death, drama struck a VAR check spotted a foul on Kadidiatou Diani in the box at 45’+2′, and the ref pointed to the spot. Sakina Karchaoui kept her cool, slotting the penalty home in the 45’+3′ to give Les Bleues a sneaky 1-0 lead going into halftime. It wasn’t pretty, but it gave France the edge in a half where clear chances were few and far between.

2nd Half Overview

Sweden came flying out of the traps after the break, looking like a team with a point to prove. Their halftime subs, Hanna Lundkvist for Filippa Angeldahl and Stina Blackstenius for Felicia Schröder, added some real bite, and they started pushing France back, creating headaches for the home defense. The equalizer came in the 67th minute: a slick move ended with Anna Sandberg setting up Blackstenius for a sharp finish, making it 1-1 and flipping the script. France looked a bit shaky after that, losing their grip in midfield. Both coaches dipped into their benches. Delphine Cascarino made way for Perle Morroni at 64′ for France, while Sweden brought on Fridolina Rolfö for Madelen Janogy Bah at 61′. Later changes included Kenza Dali and others, but the game turned frantic and end-to-end. Just when it seemed headed for a draw, Karchaoui turned creator in stoppage time, whipping in a cross for Griedge Mbock Bathy to head home the winner at 90’+6′. Cue wild celebrations, France snatched a 2-1 victory in the dying seconds. Late yellows went to Elma Junttila Nelhage at 90’+1′ and Perle Morroni at 90’+3′, adding to the tension.

France Analysis

This win was all about grit over glamour for France. They dominated the ball early on around 52% possession overall, but struggled to turn it into open-play threats, leaning on that late penalty to get ahead. Letting in the equalizer showed a wobbly spell where Sweden bossed the energy and exposed some midfield frailties. But what stood out was their never-say-die attitude; they refused to settle for a draw and kept probing. Standouts like Karchaoui’s goal and assist, and Mbock the match-winner, delivered the big moments. It wasn’t their flashiest showing, with just 3 shots on target from 11 attempts, but it highlighted their mental toughness and knack for grinding out results when the chips are down.

Sweden Analysis

Sweden will be gutted, they’ll head home wondering what could’ve been after a tale of two halves. They were too passive before the break, sitting deep and inviting pressure without much counter-punch. But post-halftime? They were transformed, pressing higher, disrupting France, and deservedly leveling through Blackstenius’s clinical strike (her team’s 4th shot on goal). For a good chunk after that, they looked the sharper side, creating more corners and keeping the hosts on their toes. The killer blow was that late lapse in concentration, conceding in the 96th minute after defending so stubbornly. It’s a tough one to take, but their comeback spirit and quality from players like Blackstenius show they’ve got the tools to bounce back. Overall, a solid effort that just fell short.

What’s next?

The drama is not over for these two European heavyweights. This third-place playoff in the UEFA Nations League is a two-legged affair, meaning they will lock horns again in just a few days. Sweden will have the home advantage and a burning desire for revenge, while France will look to defend their slender aggregate lead and secure the bronze medal.

Player Ratings

Player of the Match: Sakina Karchaoui (France W)