Blowout

Sweden takes Bulgaria to task 5-0 on pair of Larsson goals

Henrik Larsson found celebrating twice as nice in leading Sweden to a 5-0 thrashing of Bulgaria Monday. Ben Radford/Getty Images Match Stats SWEDEN BULGARIA 5 Goals 0 1 Halftime score 0 5 Corners 3 5 Offsides 1 21 Fouls 19 2 Yellow cards 4 0 Red cards 0 20 Free kicks 26 11 Shots on target 3 4 Shots off target 8 3 Saves by goalkeeper 3 0 Goalline clearances 0 43% Possession 57% Referee: Mike Riley (England) Venue: Lisbon, Jose Alvalade Stadium Attendance: 52,000

LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- Sweden entered its opening Euro 2004 match careful not to underestimate their Bulgaria opponents.

It paid off: they left with a stunning 5-0 victory, only their third ever in a European Championship final, and their best result at a major championship in 56 years, as two beautiful strikes from Henrik Larsson and further goals from Fredrik Ljungberg, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Allback propeled them past Bulgaria on Monday night.

Larsson marked his first competitive game out of retirement with two mastercalss goals in 71 seconds to lead the Swedes to their best European Championship match in history, and their loftiest score in a championship since defeating Korea at the 1948 Olympics 12-0.

"This is good victory," Larsson said. "We are pleased with the result. It was an important win but it's only the beginning."

Larsson, who quit the national side after the 2002 World Cup, was persuaded to come back for the Euros and struck in the 57th and 58th minutes at the Jose Alvalade Stadium after Fredrik Ljungberg had given his team a first half lead.

"It is easy to be a coach if you have someone like Larsson," Sweden's coach Lars Lagerback said.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic added the fourth from the penalty spot 12 minutes from the end and Marcus Allback netted the fifth in the final minute.

Larsson's first was a full length diving header and the second a first time leftfooted drive into the roof of the net as the Swedes unhinged the Bulgarian defense with crosses from both flanks.

The striker, who also played in the 1994 World Cup, is now looking for a new club after leaving Glasgow Celtic after seven seasons and had said he wants to play in Spain.

In Portugal though, Larsson is only concentrating on getting Sweden through.

"I will enjoy this tonight, but as of tomorrow it is the next game that counts," Larsson said after being named man of the match. Sweden meets Italy in Porto on Friday.

The result was tough on the Bulgarians who were close to leveling the score before Larsson's double strike effectively put the game out of reach. After Italy and Denmark tied 0-0 earlier in the day at Guimaraes, this result puts the Swedes well clear at the top as the only winner.

Bulgaria created the first chance in the 15th minute when Martin Petrov burst free down the left and crossed deep into the Swedish area. Zoran Jankovich met it first time but his shot flew diagonally across goal. Although the shot went wide, Dimitar Berbatov wasn't far away from turning it home.

Two Bulgarians, Rossen Kirilov and Jankovich went into the book of English referee Mike Riley in the space of a minute for fouls on Arsenal midfielder Ljungberg.

In an end-to-end game, the Bulgarians went close again in the 26th minute when Berbatov climbed above two Swedish defenders and powered in a header that Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson acrobatically tipped over the bar.

But the first goal came at the other end when Ibrahimovic beat the Bulgarian offside trap just a few meters in their half and ran 30 meters before squaring the ball for Ljungberg to tap into an empty net with the 'keeper pulled out of position.

Bulgaria should have leveled in the third minute of the second half when Martin Petrov got past Nilsson on the left and crossed for Jankovich who had a clear sight of goal but headed wide of the far post.

A minute later Ljungberg almost sent the Swedes further ahead when Ibrahimovic put him through the middle with a deft backheeled pass but 'keeper Zdravko Zdravkov was quick off his line to make a blocking save.

Martin Petrov was causing frequent problems to the right side of the Swedish defense and, after the Bulgarians took a quick free kick, he fired an angled 20 shot that shaved the far post.

But the Swedes responded with those two Larsson goals in two minutes to go 3-0 ahead.

Ljungberg put Edman away down the left and when the fullback curled in a well-flighted cross, Larsson dived to head powerfully inside the far post.

The Swedish fans were still celebrating when he struck little more than a minute later.

Christian Wilhelmsson pushed the ball down the right to Tobias Linderoth who flighted a cross towards the far post. Larsson was waiting again and slid in to scoop the ball into the roof of the net from a tough angle.

Sweden completed the second half rout when Ljungberg went down under a challenge by Vladimir Ivanov on the edge of the area and Ibrahimovic slotted home the spot kick and then Allback got free of the offside trap to score the fifth.

Larsson enjoys return for classy Sweden

LISBON (Reuters) -- Striker Henrik Larsson turned down the chance to score a hat-trick on his return to competitive internationals as Sweden thrashed Bulgaria 5-0 in their opening Euro 2004 match on Monday.

Larsson, who announced his retirement following the 2002 World Cup, scored two goals in two minutes early in the second half before Sweden won a penalty in the 78th minute.

But instead of stepping up to complete a perfect return with his 28th international goal on his 75th appearance for Sweden, the 32-year-old told strike partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic to take it.

"It is more important that all the strikers score goals, it is better for the team," Larsson told reporters. "Zlatan wanted to take it and he got his goal and by the end we had three strikers who all scored goals. That is good for everyone, for confidence and for the whole squad."

His Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said Larsson was the number one penalty-taker but he supported Larsson's decision.

"It was entirely up to them and I was very happy at the way they took the decisions," he said. "I am pleased about it actually. Tonight Henrik Larsson showed not only that he is a great player, but also that he is a great character and very special man."

FOURTH GOAL

The decision resulted in Ibrahimovic claiming Sweden's fourth goal. Midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg had opened the scoring from an Ibrahimovic cross and substitute Marcus Allback completed the rout in injury time.

"This is a great result for us, but we have to remember it is only the first group game and there is a long way to go," warned Larsson, who is without a club after deciding to leave Celtic.

"Both of the crosses for my goals were excellent and I cannot remember a more enjoyable game for Sweden.

"My mind is entirely focused now on this European Championship with Sweden and I won't worry about anything else until afterwards."

Lagerback said Bulgaria caused Sweden problems in the opening period when the Group C game was more even.

"We made some changes for the second half and then we played a marvellous 45 minutes," he said.

"It was just about perfect. We scored goals and we didn't give them any chances at all. But you have to be careful now, we don't want to get carried away. We have to play an Italy that will be very focused on beating us next."

He said the only slight injury Sweden had was a stomach strain that caused defender Teddy Lucic to come off in the first half.

Bulgaria coach Plamen Markov thought the result was harsh on his side but was impressed by the Swedes.

"This is a very good Sweden team, very strong, and they can go a long way in this tournament," he said.

The result ended Sweden's long run of first-night nerves since they last won their opening game at a major tournament in the 1958 World Cup on home soil.

Summary

Sweden 5 Bulgaria 0 - result

European Championship, Group C

Scorers: Fredrik Ljungberg 32, Henrik Larsson 57, 58, Zlatan Ibrahimovic 78pen, Marcus Allback 90+1

Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 52,000

Teams:

Sweden (4-4-2): 1-Andreas Isaksson; 2-Teddy Lucic (21-Christian Wilhelmsson 41), 3-Olof Mellberg (captain), 15-Andreas Jakobsson, 5-Erik Edman; 7-Mikael Nilsson, 6-Tobias Linderoth, 8-Anders Svensson (16-Kim Kallstrom 77), 9-Fredrik Ljungberg; 10-Zlatan Ibrahimovic (20-Marcus Allback 81), 11-Henrik Larsson.

Bulgaria (4-4-1-1): 1-Zdravko Zdravkov; 2-Vladimir Ivanov, 18-Predrag Pazhin, 3-Rosen Kirilov, 4-Ivailo Petkov; 13-Georgi Peev, 15-Marian Hristov, 19-Stilian Petrov (captain), 17-Martin Petrov (11-Zdravko Lazarov 84); 21-Zoran Jankovic (10-Velizar Dimitrov 62); 9-Dimitar Berbatov (16-Vladimir Manchev 76).

Referee: Mike Riley (England)

Linesmen: Philip Sharp (England), Glenn Turner (England)

Match Highlights

LISBON (Reuters) -- Highlights of the Euro 2004 Group C match between Sweden and Bulgaria on Monday.

16 - Volley by Bulgaria's Zoran Jankovich flies past Andreas Isaksson's far post after a superb run by Martin Petrov past two players down the left flank and a dangerous cross.

18 - YELLOW CARD. Bulgaria's Ivailo Petkov booked for dangerous play inside the area as he gives away an indirect free kick inside the penalty area but Sweden fail to capitalise.

21 - Sweden striker Henrik Larsson stretches to reach a floated cross from Mikael Nilsson but steers his creditable effort just over the bar.

23 - YELLOW CARD. Bulgaria central defender Rossen Kirilov for charging into Sweden midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg.

23 - YELLOW CARD. Forward Zoran Jankovich booked for another late tackle on Ljungberg.

25 - Midfielder Petrov fires a low angled drive wide of the far post from just outside the penalty area.

27 - Powerful close-range header from Bulgaria's Dimitar Berbatov tipped over the bar by Isaksson after Vladimir Ivanov's hopeful high ball into the box.

32 - GOAL. SWEDEN 1 BULGARIA 0. Ljungberg puts Sweden in front with a simple close range tap-in after being set up by forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic who springs the offside trap after a fine raking pass from midfielder Anders Svensson.

40 - SUBSTITUTION. Sweden midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson replaces struggling right back Teddy Lucic.

HALFTIME: SWEDEN 1 BULGARIA 0.

47 - Jankovich misses a great chance to equalise when he sends a header wide from inside the six metre box after a Petrov cross from the left.

48 - Ljungberg strikes a low shot from point-blank range that is well saved by Zdravko Zdravkov after being put through by a superb Ibrahimovic backheel.

52 - YELLOW CARD. Sweden's defensive midfielder Tobias Linderoth is booked for a two-footed tackle on Marian Hristov.

56 - Martin Petrov fires a curling right-foot shot just wide of the far post.

57 - GOAL. SWEDEN 2 BULGARIA 0. Larsson scores with a superb diving header into the bottom corner after a fine cross from the left by Erik Edman.

58 - GOAL. SWEDEN 3 BULGARIA 0. Larsson strikes again as he deftly angles the ball into the net by the post with his left foot after a cross from the right.

59 - Ibrahimovic sends a free header over the bar from inside the six metre box after a Svensson free kick on the right.

61 - SUBSTITUTION. Bulgaria's Velizar Dimitrov replaces fellow striker Jankovich.

66 - YELLOW CARD. Ibrahimovic booked for a late tackle on Kirilov that left the defender nursing a sore ankle.

70 - YELLOW CARD. Right back Vladimir Ivanov booked for a tackle from behind on Ljungberg.

76 - SUBSTITUTIONS. Bulgaria's Vladimir Manchev comes on for fellow striker Berbatov and Sweden's Kim Kallstrom replaces Svensson in midfield.

78 - SWEDEN 4 BULGARIA 0. Ibrahimovic scores from the penalty spot after Ivanov clips Ljungberg's heels as the attacking midfielder makes a surging run into the area.

81 - SUBSTITUTION. Ibrahimovic is replaced by fellow striker Marcus Allback.

84 - SUBSTITUTION. Bulgaria's Zdravko Lazarov comes on for forward Martin Petrov.

90 + 1 GOAL. SWEDEN 5 BULGARIA 0. Substitute Allback wraps up an easy victory with a fierce shot from the edge of the area that Zdravkov managed to get his hands to but could not stop finding the net after a fine chipped pass from Larsson.

FULLTIME. SWEDEN 5 BULGARIA 0.

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