Chile count on home support to propel them to win over Sweden
They may be some 8,000 miles away from home but here in Oslo the Chile men’s side could count on some strong support in the stands from their fellow countrymen to help propel them to victory over Sweden on Day 3 of The Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup.
With current estimates suggesting that there are around 10,000 Chileans and their descendants living in Norway - Norway accepting thousands of Chilean refugees fleeing General Pinochet's dictatorship following the 1973 military coup - it was no surprise to see a number of Chilean flags being waved in the stands at Oslo’s Rådhusplassen Square.
Chile - men’s champions in 2014 and 2023 - bounced back from defeat to England on Day 2 to secure a 7-2 victory over a strong Sweden side, made more impressive with the fact the South American team were missing players through injury.
A Chile counter attack from kick off saw them take an early lead, before a smart finish off the back of a great passing display put them two goals ahead, Sweden’s first chance of the game saw a strike crash just wide, before a fantastic block kept a strong shot troubling the Chilean goalkeeper. A quick three-pass move stretched Sweden to see Chile move 3-0 up. After the Sweden keeper produced a remarkable diving save to stop a fourth Chilean goal, it came just before half-time via a counter-attack that caught Sweden off-guard.
Moments after the restart, Sweden got on the scoresheet with a powerful shot into the far corner, before a side-footed strike from distance saw Chile restore their four-goal advantage. A smart finish off a rebound put them 6-1 ahead, before a curling shot gave them a seventh goal. As Chile searched for an eighth, a Sweden penalty saw them score their second of the game.
Coach Juan Erazo said: “For us it was a very important game. It meant a lot to us because we had to win to be among the teams that classify for the next round. We had two players out injured so we only had five fit players to play the match. There were nerves as a result but the team was very focused and had a desire to win. We scored early which helped and allowed us to relax into the game.”
He added:
“The players are enjoying every moment. Both on and off the pitch. It has been a perfect tournament in every sense so far.”
The support from the stands has also helped us a lot. There’s a lot of Chilean immigrants here in Oslo. And a lot are here to watch us. We’ve managed to meet some of them. Two days ago we went to a spot where they practice Chilean folklore and where they had traditional Chilean food. We didn’t spend much time there but had a lot of fun and we felt the Chilean affection that is present among Chileans wherever they are in the world.”
Chile Sweden 7-2
Words by Craig Williams | Photos by Anita Milas