Sweden stun Mexico 3-0 to reach last-16 and knock out Germany
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ByEurosport
Updated 27/06/2018 at 19:39 GMT
World Cup, Group F – Sweden 3 Mexico 0
Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden celebrates with teammates Ola Toivonen and Viktor Claesson after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinb
Image credit: Getty Images
Sweden produced a spectacular display to beat Mexico 3-0 and qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup at the expense of defending champions Germany.
Second-half goals from Ludwig Augustinsson - his first international strike - and a belting penalty from Andreas Granqvist put Sweden in the driving seat before an Edson Alvarez own-goal made it three.
Mexico - who started the day at the top of the group - were in danger of being knocked out had Germany secured a late win in the other group game.
But South Korea’s last-gasp goal against Germany guaranteed that they would progress along with Sweden – sparking wild scenes amongst the Mexico supporters despite the 3-0 deficit on the day.
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Albin Ekdal of Sweden tackles Carlos Vela of Mexico during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
It’s difficult to talk about anything else other than the fact that both these teams are through the group stages – and holders Germany are not. Watching the Mexico fans desperately glean information about the other match in the group, though, was truly a microcosm of a World Cup in the social media age - all mobile phone scrolling, and no old-fashioned transistor radios.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Marcus Berg (Sweden). Worked industriously, held the ball up well, took a lot of physical punishment.
PLAYER RATINGS
Mexico: Ochoa 7, Salcedo 7, Moreno 6, Herrera 6, Alvarez 6, Layun 6, Guardado 6, Gallardo 7, Carlos 8, Hernandez 7, Lozano 7. SUBS: Peralta 6, Corona 6, Fabian 7.
Sweden: Olsen 8, Lustig 7, Lindelof 7, Granqvist 8, Augustinsson 7, Larsson 7, Ekdal 7, Forsberg 7, Claesson 7, Berg 8, Toivonen 8. SUBS: Hiljemark 7, Thelin 7, Svensson 7,
KEY MOMENTS
50’ GOAL! It's Augustinsson, of all people, who gets the final touch - his first ever international goal! He's lurking at the far post as Berg knocks it to the left, and it's a great finish, firing under the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
60’ PENALTY TO SWEDEN!
62’ GOAL! Granqvist veritably bursts the back of the net, blasting it into the top right corner.
74’ GOAL! That's it, surely? And that's an own goal from Albarez. Long throw nodded on, and Alvarez flails under pressure from Forsberg.
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Mexico fans react during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Mexico and Sweden at the Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg on June 27, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Edson Alvarez's own goal for Mexico was the seventh at World Cup 2018 - the most at any World Cup tournament.
- Andreas Granqvist is the first Sweden player to score 2+ goals in a single World Cup since Henrik Larsson in 2002 (3).
- Ludwig Augustinsson scored with his first ever shot at the World Cup finals.
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