Zlatan Ibrahimovic sends Sweden to finals with second-leg brace in Denmark
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 17/11/2015 at 22:44 GMT
Euro 2016 qualification play-off second-leg, Telia Parken - Denmark 2 (Poulson 81, Vertergaard 90) Sweden 2 (Ibrahimovic 19, 76).
Sweden's forward and captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 second leg play-off football match against Denmark at Parken stadium in Copenhagen
Image credit: AFP
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice - the second a superb free-kick - to give Sweden a 2-2 draw (4-3 win on aggregate) against Denmark in their Euro 2016 play-off..
At the start of the game it was Denmark who looked likeliest to score, and Kim Kallstrom’s attempted clearance crashed against his own side’s crossbar.
However, Sweden took the lead when a clever, disguised corner was aimed to an unmarked Ibrahimovic at the near post, and he turned in a shot to the far corner. Sweden almost had another, when Zlatan's cross was put over his bar by Daniel Agger.
In the second half, Sweden absorbed pressure and were happy to sit back, and commit tactical fouls in areas where set pieces would not pose a threat. It took until the 72nd minute for Denmark to threaten, when Christian Eriksen crashed in a shot from close range against Sebastian Larsson.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/11/17/1734407-36686366-2560-1440.jpg)
Denmark's Thomas Kahlenberg (L) and Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic fight for the ball during their Euro 2016 qualifier play-off first leg match at the Friends arena in Stockholm, Sweden, November 14, 2015. REUTERS/Janerik Henriksson/TT News Agency
Image credit: Reuters
Ibrahimovic made things certain with a brilliant free kick into the top corner, and late goals from Yussuf Poulsen and Jannik Vestegaard made no difference.
KEY EVENTS
8’ – KALLSTROM CLEARANCE - A Delaney glancing header finds Kallstrom desperately straining to intervene. He reaches out with a leg and his attempted clearance strikes the crossbar and is eventually scrambled away.
19’ – GOAL! Denmark 0-1 Sweden - Ibrahimovic scores. Corner for Sweden on the right wing. It's taken low and to the near post. Ibrahimovic is criminally unmarked and he hooks a scuffed shot into the corner.
31’ – ERIKSEN FREE-KICK - Eriksen hits the free-kick well, towards the bottom corner and it bounces just in front of Isaksson, but the 'keeper pushes it around the post and away from danger.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/11/17/1734408-36686386-2560-1440.jpg)
Sweden celebrate their qualification
Image credit: Imago
39’ – AGGER CLEARANCE - A flighted ball is picked up by Ibrahimovic. He shrugs off a defender, and curls in a cross that Agger sends just over his own net.
72’ – ERIKSEN CHANCE - Eriksen comes close for Denmark. A long throw to the left is glanced on, it comes to Eriksen, who hooks a fierce strike at goal which is blocked a couple of yards from out.
76’ - GOAL! Denmark 0-2 Sweden - Ibrahimovic with a screamer! He curls a brilliant free-kick into the top near corner, beating the 'keeper for pace and placement.
81’ - GOAL! Denmark 1-2 Sweden - Yussuf Poulsen with a consolation. Poulsen latches onto a cross to the back post, and crashes in a header.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/11/17/1734410-36686426-2560-1440.jpg)
Sweden's midfielder Kim Kallstrom vies with Denmark's midfielder Pierre Hojbjerg (L) during the Euro 2016 second leg play-off football match between Denmark and Sweden at Parken stadium in Copenhagen on November 17, 2015. AFP PHOTO / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND
Image credit: AFP
90+1’ - GOAL! Denmark 2-2 Sweden - Vestergaard pulls another back. He meets a corner from the right and thunders a header under the crossbar.
KEY STATS
Denmark had 18 attempts on goal compared to Sweden’s six, to score the same amount of goals.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 61st and 62nd goals for Sweden.
TALKING POINT
Ibrahimovic gets his send-off. The rumours are that Ibrahimovic will leave Paris Saint-Germain to be replaced by a new superstar, and it’s not clear if he will move on to a traditionally important side in Europe. MLS, or a return to Sweden have been suggested, and his goal tonight means he will have one last spell in the limelight at Euro 2016 if he does indeed decide to initiate a wind-down come the 16/17 campaign.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden): For a man whose physical prowess and influence is waning, he was still strong and effective for Sweden. His guile put his side ahead, and his strength and determination almost caused Agger to score an own goal. Without his personality and determination to drag his side to the tournament, they would have struggled tonight.
PLAYER RATINGS
Denmark: Schmeichel 6, Kjaer 5, Agger 5, Durmisi 6, Jacobsen 6, Eriksen 6, Delaney 6, Hojbjerg 5, Bendtner 5, Jorgensen 5, Y. Poulsen 6. Subs: Vestergaard 7, Krohn-Dehli 6, Rasmussen 6.
Sweden: Isaksson 6, Lustig 6, Granqvist 6, Johansson 6, Bengtsson 5, Forsberg 6, Larsson 6, Lewicki 5, Kallstrom 6, Ibrahimovic 8, Berg 6. Subs: Olsson 6, Hiljemark 6, Svensson 6
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article