Larsson hits double

Sweden joy as 2-1 victory eliminates Nigeria

Isaac Okoronkwo (left) kicks the ball away from Henrik Larsson AP

KOBE, Japan (Reuters) -- Striker Henrik Larsson scored twice as Sweden came from a goal down to beat World Cup group F rivals Nigeria 2-1 on Friday and eliminate the African side from the tournament.

Nigeria, who lost their opening match 1-0 to Argentina, were celebrating when Julius Aghahowa headed them into a 27th minute lead and lit up the stage with his trademark series of back flips.

But Larsson stole his thunder with an equalizer after 35 minutes before winning and converting a 62nd-minute penalty which lifted Sweden to the top of the group on four points after a highly entertaining game.

Their lead may be short-lived, though, as Argentina face England in Sapporo later on Friday.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback thought his side deserved their victory.

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"It was a hard game but we felt good," he said. "They were dangerous in attack but overall we had more chances so we deserved to win.

"It was a more open game than we usually we play but I thought we played very well," he added. "I am really glad for Henrik [Larsson]. He works so hard for the team."

Nigeria, who reached the second round at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, could have salvaged a point midway through the second half when Taribo West headed wide from close range and Joseph Yobo's meaty long-range shot struck the post late on.

Having taken just one point from their opening 1-1 draw with England and with tournament favorites Argentina still to play on June 12, Sweden were under some pressure.

But Larsson and defender Olof Mellberg had a sight of goal in the first two minutes before the first genuine chance.

Fredrik Ljungberg's mazy run after 20 minutes tested goalkeeper Ike Shoronmu and, from the resulting corner, Johan Mjallby's goalbound header was cleared off the line by Justice Christopher.

Stat Summary Sweden     Nigeria  2  Goals  1  9  Shots  14  5  Shots on goal  4  13  Fouls  14  8  Corner kicks  2  1  Penalty kicks  0  4  Offsides  3  0  Own goals  0  2  Yellow cards  1  0  Red cards  0  48%  Ball possession  52%  27  Actual playing time  29     Attendance: 36,194     MATCH SUMMARY

Although Nigeria's delightful skills had been throwing Sweden this way and that, the Super Eagles' breakthrough -- against the run of play -- was very direct.

Yobo motored down the right flank and provided the perfect cross for Aghahowa, who nipped in front of keeper Magnus Hedman to head home.

Larsson leveled 10 minutes before halftime as he sidestepped two defenders and calmly beat Shoronmu from close range, but Sweden's defense was suddenly vulnerable.

Eight minutes before the break, they survived a scare when Teddy Lucic's clearance hit team mate Mjallby and the ball rebounded off the post.

Although the excitement waned in the second half, Larsson maintained his threat.

After seemingly getting little protection from referee Rene Ortube, he finally won the decisive penalty under a challenge from Ifeanyi Udeze. The striker stepped up to convert the spot kick himself despite Shoronmu's valiant effort.

Saudi Arabia are the only other team eliminated from the World Cup so far.

Larsson still has the touch.

Eight years after his last World Cup goal, the Glasgow Celtic striker netted two Friday.

"We scored two goals [and] we had a bit of luck with them hitting the post twice," Larsson said. "But over the whole game, I felt we deserved to win.

"It was nice goal. Getting that in a World Cup is obviously a tremendous feeling," Larsson said.

"I would not say we are in the driving seat. Argentina are in the driving seat, but we have got a good chance," Larsson said. "But it will all count for nothing if we don't get a good result in our last game."

"We have players with very good character and they really are a team and enjoy each other off the pitch," Lagerback said. "Nigeria has very good individual skills but they have some problems on their defense and we took advantage of that right away."

"I think it was rather unfortunate. It was a good game, just like the first one, but probably there was an element of luck involved," Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde said. "We hit the post a number of times and I think it was just their luck that they won the match."

Summary

Sweden 2 Nigeria 1 - result

World Cup, group F

Scorers:

Sweden - Henrik Larsson 35, 62pen

Nigeria - Julius Aghahowa 27

Yellow cards:

Sweden - Johan Mjallby 31, Niclas Alexandersson 70

Nigeria - Taribo West 80

Halftime: 1-1

Teams:

Sweden (4-4-2): 1-Magnus Hedman; 2-Olof Mellberg, 4-Johan Mjallby, 15-Andreas Jakobsson, 16-Teddy Lucic; 7-Niclas Alexandersson, 6-Tobias Linderoth, 8-Anders Svensson (17-Magnus Svensson 84), 9-Fredrik Ljungberg; 10-Marcus Allback (22-Andreas Andersson 64), 11-Henrik Larsson

Nigeria (4-3-3): 1-Ike Shorunmu; 14-Ifeanyi Udeze, 6-Taribo West, 5-Isaac Okoronkwo, 3-Celestine Babayaro (4-Nwankwo Kanu 66); 2-Joseph Yobo, 10-Jay Jay Okocha, 15-Justice Christopher; 9-Bartholomew Ogbeche (7-Pius Ikedia 71), 17-Julius Aghahowa, 21-John Utaka

Referee: Rene Ortube (Bolivia)

Linesmen: Miguel Giacomuzzi (Paraguay), Mat Lazim Awang Hamat (Malaysia)

 

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