Match ends, Sweden 2, Denmark 1.
SwedenSweden2DenmarkDenmark1
Sweden hold a slender advantage after the first leg of their Euro 2016 play-off tie against rivals Denmark.
Emil Forsberg swept the ball home with a crisp finish in the first half before he was fouled for a penalty converted by skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic - his first goal against Denmark.
But the Danes pulled a precious goal back when Nicolai Jorgensen stabbed the ball home at the far post.
It leaves the return leg in Copenhagen on 17 November delicately poised.
Tuesday's match will be the 105th meeting between the Scandinavian rivals and it could yet be the last game in charge for Denmark coach Morten Olsen.
He won 102 caps as a player and has coached Denmark since 2000, reaching four major finals, but announced earlier in the year that the Euro 2016 campaign will be his last.
It was looking particularly dire for him at one point but his team rallied after pulling a goal back and it was Sweden who were hanging on at the end.
| Euro 2016 play-off dates |
|---|
| Norway v Hungary (Agg: 0-1); Second leg in Budapest (Sun 15 Nov 19:45 GMT) |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina v Republic of Ireland (Agg 1-1); Second leg in Dublin (Mon 16 Nov 19:45 GMT) |
| Ukraine v Slovenia (Agg 2-0); Second leg in Maribor (Tue 17 Nov 19:45 GMT) |
| Sweden v Denmark (Agg 2-1); Second leg in Copenhagen (Tues 17 Nov 19:45 GMT) |
| Read a guide to all of the play-off games here. |
The match, played at the Friends Arena in Solna, started slowly but Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel made a brilliant save to deny Marcus Berg midway through the opening half after the Panathinaikos striker connected with a Oscar Lewicki cross.
Berg should really have put the home side in front just after the half-hour mark after Ibrahimovic played him through but the striker dragged his shot across goal and wide.
Nicklas Bendtner might have punished the Swedes' profligacy but could not find the target after Christian Eriksen's through ball put him in a brilliant position.
That was as good as it got in the opening half for Denmark, with Forsberg superbly connecting with Mikael Lustig's pull-back for the opener.
And after Schmeichel rescued his team once again with a save from an Ibrahimovic free-kick on the stroke of half-time, the keeper was powerless to stop the striker's penalty after Thomas Kahlenberg tripped Forsberg.
Ibrahimovic - this week named his country's footballer of the year for the 10th time - had the ball in the net again but that effort was ruled out for offside.
And after failing to score a third goal, Sweden were punished for switching off at a corner, Jorgensen converting a flick-on from Yussuf Poulsen.
Line-ups
Sweden
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Isaksson
- 2Lustig
- 4Granqvist
- 3AntonssonSubstituted forJohanssonat 29'minutes
- 5Olsson
- 21DurmazSubstituted forLarssonat 68'minutes
- 8Lewicki
- 9Källström
- 6ForsbergBooked at 47mins
- 19Berg
- 10IbrahimovicSubstituted forGuidettiat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Larsson
- 11Guidetti
- 12Olsen
- 13Hiljemark
- 14Kujovic
- 15Johansson
- 16Svensson
- 17Bengtsson
- 18Khalili
- 20Toivonen
- 22Zengin
- 23Carlgren
Denmark
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Schmeichel
- 6Jacobsen
- 3Kjaer
- 4AggerBooked at 45mins
- 5Durmisi
- 7Kvist
- 8BraithwaiteSubstituted forPoulsenat 71'minutes
- 15KahlenbergSubstituted forN Jørgensenat 54'minutes
- 10Eriksen
- 21FischerSubstituted forHøjbjergat 54'minutes
- 11Bendtner
Substitutes
- 2Wass
- 9Poulsen
- 12Vestergaard
- 13Christensen
- 14Falk Jensen
- 16Andersen
- 17Delaney
- 18Poulsen
- 19N Jørgensen
- 20Poulsen
- 22Lössl
- 23Højbjerg
- Referee:
- Nicola Rizzoli
Match Stats
Home TeamSwedenAway TeamDenmark
- Possession
- Home37%
- Away63%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sweden 2, Denmark 1.
Post update
William Kvist (Denmark) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by John Guidetti (Sweden).
Post update
Foul by Yussuf Poulsen (Denmark).
Post update
Martin Olsson (Sweden) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nicolai Jørgensen (Denmark) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lars Jacobsen with a cross.
Post update
Hand ball by Marcus Berg (Sweden).
Post update
Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Andreas Granqvist.
Substitution
Substitution, Sweden. John Guidetti replaces Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Goal!
Goal! Sweden 2, Denmark 1. Nicolai Jørgensen (Denmark) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Yussuf Poulsen following a corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Yussuf Poulsen (Denmark) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Emil Forsberg.
Post update
Attempt missed. Yussuf Poulsen (Denmark) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Riza Durmisi with a cross.
Post update
Riza Durmisi (Denmark) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Sebastian Larsson (Sweden).
Post update
William Kvist (Denmark) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Emil Forsberg (Sweden).
Substitution
Substitution, Denmark. Yussuf Poulsen replaces Martin Braithwaite.
Post update
Corner, Sweden. Conceded by Lars Jacobsen.
