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Sweden beat Paraguay in their World Cup match
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June 16, 2006, 09:00
Sweden chose the perfect moment to score their first goal of the World Cup, securing their first win of the year with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Group B yesterday.
With time running out and the game goalless at the Olympiastadion, coach Lars Lagerback made his last throw of the dice, replacing the effective but tiring Kim Kallstrom with Johan Elmander to freshen up his attack after 86 minutes.
Three minutes later Elmander was involved as Paraguay's resolute defenders were caught wrong-footed, Henrik Larsson was lurking and Freddie Ljungberg waiting to pounce.
Pricelss victory
Marcus Allback, who also came on as a substitute in an energy-sapping second half, was the player who created the chance, heading the ball back across the face of goal in the direction of Ljungberg. He reacted like a lizard devouring a fly, powerfully heading home to give Sweden a dramatic winner and a priceless victory.
The Swedish substitutes leapt out of the technical area as if they had won the World Cup. They had not done that but had given themselves a massive boost in their bid to reach the last 16.
Until that goal went in, the race for second place in Group B was wide open. England, who beat Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 earlier in the day, were assured a place in the second round with six points from two wins.
Sweden were heading for their second goalless draw and Paraguay their first point, which would have kept them in the competition along with Trinidad, also on one point. But Ljungberg's header changed all that. Sweden now have four points out of six and can still top the group if they beat England in their last match.
Remore chance
Trinidad have a remote chance of qualifying on goal difference while Paraguay are out, goalless and point-less after two 1-0 defeats.
The relief for Lagerback, his men and the 50 000 yellow-clad Swedish fans was enormous because the longer the game went on, the more likely it appeared the teams were heading for their second successive goalless draws. Sweden, though, had more invention and guile and are used to progressing after a slow start.
In 1994, they drew their opening match and and went on to reach the semi-finals. In 2002, they drew their first game against England but went on to win the group. They face England and their Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson again next Tuesday with a fascinating scenario looming.
By the time they meet, the sides will know the result of the Germany v Ecuador match being played earlier that day and which of the two has finished first in Group A.
England and Sweden would want to avoid the hosts but, with the Scandinavians not certain of their place in the last 16, playing to avoid the Germans in the second round is unlikely to be an option. Like footballers everywhere though, they will simply be taking it one game at a time. - Reuters
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