Sweden's women emphasised the gulf in class as they easily disposed of South Africa after a first-half scoring spree in their Olympic Games Group F clash at the City of Coventry Stadium.

Sweden demonstrated the gap between sides ranked fourth and 61st respectively in the FIFA rankings against a South African side competing in the tournament for the first time.

They dominated from the first whistle and inside the first five minutes Marie Hammarstrom and Caroline Seger both volleyed against the South African crossbar.

Sweden's skipper Nilla Fischer broke the deadlock after seven minutes although her shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off Refiloe Jane.

The woodwork again came to South Africa's aid when Hammarstrom struck a post from a centre by the dangerous Sofia Jakobsson.

But after 20 minutes Lisa Dahlkvist side-footed home a Hammarstrom centre to double Sweden's lead.

Then 60 seconds later Lotta Schelin slipped the ball past South African keeper Roxanne Barker to make it 3-0.

Portia Modise reduced the arrears after 60 minutes with a spectacular long range chip over the head of Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl.

But three minutes later Schelin converted a near post cross from Dahlkvist for her second goal.