FIFA World Cup 2018: Forsberg’s strike takes Sweden to last 8
Jul 3, 2018 at 10:16 PM
A deflected goal from Emil Forsberg was enough to take Sweden into the Word Cup quarterfinals as they beat Switzerland 1-0 in a scrappy match in St Petersburg.
Forsberg scored the goal in the 66th minute of the game.
With the game deadlocked, Forsberg found space on the edge of the area. And, his 66th-minute shot looped in off defender Manuel Akanji to set up a clash with either Colombia or England.
In the first minute, after Sweden had lost possession, Xherdan Shaqiri drilled a speculative strike wide from outside the area. Moments later it was Sweden’s turn to threaten. Marcus Berg put through but sent his volley wildly off target.
Shaqiri tried to turn provider after 15 minutes. But his cross from the right was over the leaping Valon Behrami and another centre was headed over by Steven Zuber. With a little over five minutes left until the break, Switzerland should have taken the lead. In the end, Zuber’s cross from the left was blasted over by Dzemaili.
The second period was increasingly uneventful. But after 66 minutes the breakthrough came when Forsberg found space on the edge of the area. He received a square pass and saw his scuffed strike clip off Akanji and sail high beyond Sommer. With 10 minutes to go, Embolo had a header scrambled away from almost on the line by Forsberg.
With 73 minutes gone Switzerland made a double change. Isaac Thelin came on and Marcus Berg off as Sweden ran down the clock. And, in the last seconds Olsson was fouled by Michael Lang as he burst through, with Lang sent off.
The initial decision of penalty was overturned in favour of a free kick just outside the area. And, with the last action of the match, Toivonen’s powerful strike was saved by Sommer.
FT: Sweden 1-0 Switzerland
Forsberg 66′