Sweden snatch their first victory against Slovakia from the penalty spot

Published on : 18/06/2021 – 16:51Modified : 18/06/2021 – 16:54

There are better things for Sweden. Emil Forsberg’s teammates won hard, Friday, June 18, against Slovakia (1-0). Thanks to a goal scored from the penalty spot by the RB Leipzig striker, the Swedes temporarily take the lead in Group E, pending the result of the match between Spain and Poland on Saturday.

Unlike Sweden’s closed and boring game against Spain, the game started off with a bang. Sebastian Larsson tries a right-footed shot from 25 yards. Martin Dubravka is forced to fold and intervene in two stages (4th). Then, on a harmless Slovak center, Lindelöf conceded a corner. Hamsik sends him to the far post. Satka’s head goes above (6th).

The Swedish left side, Augustinsson, is particularly moving for the Slovak defense. He quickly takes Pekarik in his lane to send a cross towards Berg at the far post. The latter is too embarrassed by the defenders to resume (24th). The side of Werder Breme is also the source of the next opportunity: his cross for Berg is caught. The ball goes up in a bell and falls close to the goal. Dubravka has all the trouble in the world to clear because of the pressing of Isak (26th).

Slovakia reacts with its captain Hamsik. Pekarik throws him into the box near the post. Danielson, late, bothers the Slovak enough to miss his control and concedes a goal kick (35^e). The “Repre” finished the first period strong by settling in the Scandinavian camp.

The passage to the locker room is beneficial to the Swedes. The second half begins with a highlight for the Yellows who are struggling to materialize, however. In one touch, Forsberg throws Isak between Skriniar and Hubocan. The attacker strikes but Skriniar deflects a tackle.

Slovakia lets the storm pass and then reacts. On a badly rejected corner, Duda inherits the ball and a shot that flies over Olsen’s goal (50th). The Swedish goalkeeper is forced to slam a shot from Kucka out of the frame. The Parma player is finally reported offside (58th). On the next action, the Slovakian goalkeeper imitates his counterpart on a header from Augustinsson (59th)

A few minutes later, Isak’s head grazed the crossbar of Dubravka, who seemed beaten (67th). Then the Swedish giant, already well seen against Spain, offers a festival. He grabs the ball on the left side, eliminates his direct opponent on a hook and releases a shot from the corner of the box. His shot at ground level ends in the small net (72nd).

The situation is finally unblocked with a penalty. While Quaison had made a success of his hook on Dubravka, the Slovakian goalkeeper is forced to foul. The referee does not hesitate. Forsberg either to transform (1-0, 76th).

The score could have been doubled in a row. Isak succeeds in a great bridge and fixes the Slovak defense. The attacker, however, ignores Quaison’s call. Forsberg finally attempts a strike that yields nothing (81st).

Slovakia does not admit defeat and throws its last strength into the battle. Benes is wanted at the near post. He throws himself but is countered. Behind, on the corner, the defense falters for a long time and the ball drags dangerously before a clearance allows the Swedish fans to breathe (86th). In the last moments, the Slovaks were denied a penalty on a hand in the box. The referee, however, does not consider it necessary to consult the VAR footage. The score remains there.

With four points, Sweden already has one foot in the round of 16, a stage of the competition that they have not seen since 2004. Opposite, Slovakia will have to secure their own place on the third day against to Spain.