France progressed to the semi-finals in their first ever appearance in the Olympic women's football tournament with a hard fought win over Sweden at Hampden Park.

Nilla Fischer had given the Swedes the lead on 17 minutes as Marie Hammarstrom's corner deflected off her shoulder into the corner of the net but France were level 11 minutes later when Laura Georges headed home at the back post from another corner.

Wendie Renard then hammered the French ahead seven minutes before half-time but Bruno Bini's side were grateful to goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi as she produced a brilliant one-handed save from Fischer to ensure the game didn't go to extra-time.

Sweden had come out on top when the sides last met in the third place play-off at last year's World Cup but France demonstrated the considerable progress they have made in recent years as they controlled the flow of the game throughout.

Marie-Laure Delie was first to threaten as she broke free down the left but her stinging effort from a narrow angle was well stopped by Hedvig Lindahl.

Sweden though were posing a threat from set-pieces and they took the lead in somewhat bizarre fashion when Hammarstrom's ball in seemed to take Fischer by surprise but the ball cannoned off her shoulder and looped in over the stranded Louisa Necib on the line.

Bouhaddi then made an important stop to deny Lisa Dahlkvist doubling the Swedes' advantage but France were deservedly level just before the half-hour mark as Lindahl flapped at Necib's corner and teed the ball up perfectly for Georges to power in her second goal of the tournament.

France continued to play the better passing football but had to reply on another set-piece for the winning goal 10 minutes later as Georges headed Sonia Bompastor's free-kick back across goal and the ball fell kindly for Renard to power her shot from close range high into the net.

Necib should have wrapped the game up with 20 minutes to go as a neat move freed Elodie Thomis down the right but her accurate cross was headed just wide by the Lyon midfielder.

And with a minute left Fischer thought she had levelled as she broke into the box and fired a sweetly timed volley towards the top corner but Bouhaddi somehow managed to turn the ball wide and from then France managed to control possession and see the game out comfortably.

Bini's women will now play either Brazil or Japan in the first semi-final on Monday at Wembley.