Group D, Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck
Sweden 1
Spain 2
Striker David Villa scored a superb stoppage-time winner to give Spain a 2-1 win over Sweden and a place in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals yesterday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked to have earned Sweden a share of the points with a 34th minute equaliser, after Spain had taken a deserved lead on 15 minutes with a clever finish from striker Fernando Torres.
But Villa, who hit a hat-trick in Spain's opening 4-1 rout of Russia, secured the points with a classy close-range finish on the break in the second minute of stoppage-time.
The result put Spain top of Group D with six points from two games, with Sweden and Russia still in the race on three points each.
Spain's progress to the Euro 2008 quarter-finals was confirmed last night after Russia beat holders Greece 1-0.
Spain coach Luis Aragones told a news conference: "Apart from 15 minutes when we got infected by playing the long-ball game, I think we were the better side.
"We were definitely the better side when we started playing the way we know with the ball."
As for the dramatic finish, he added: "Villa scored an incredible goal."
Villa played down his contribution to Spain's campaign at Euro 2008, saying: "The important thing is that we've got six points from two games.
"It's great that I've kept scoring too. But more important is that the side is still winning."
Sweden coach Lars Lagerback struggled with the disappointment at such a last-gasp defeat, saying: "This is a bitter way to lose, with all respect to Spain.
"We were beaten by a goal out of nothing."
Spain took the initiative early on at the Tivoli Neu stadium with Xavi marshalling the midfield and Torres giving full-back Mikael Nilsson some early problems with his surging runs.
It came as little surprise when Spain took the lead, Torres getting in front of his man and steering the ball in with the sole of his boot after David Silva had clipped the ball into the area following a corner.
Largely deprived of possession, Sweden had to rely on isolated counter-attacks involving Fredrik Ljungberg and Ibrahimovic, although Johan Elmander almost equalised a minute after Torres's goal when he fired into the side netting.
Spain suffered a major setback when experienced centre-back Carles Puyol was forced off through injury and replaced by Raul Albiol midway through the half. The Spanish Federation said he would undergo tests today to assess the damage.
Coach Aragones later said midfielders Xavi and David Silva had also picked up minor knocks.
Sweden responded to Spain's loss of their experienced centreback by upping the pressure on the back four.
The tactic paid off 11 minutes before the break when Ibrahimovic controlled an Elmander cross at the second attempt, turned past full-back Sergio Ramos and beat keeper Iker Casillas with an angled shot.
Lagerback took Ibrahimovic off at half-time and replaced the lanky striker, who has been suffering with a knee problem, with Markus Rosenberg.
After the half-time break, David Silva and Torres were both denied during a goalmouth scramble and keeper Andreas Isaksson turned a rasping drive from Marcos Senna around the post soon after.
A draw was very much on the cards until Villa's late strike.
Sweden: A. Isaksson; F. Stoor, O. Mellberg, P. Hansson, M. Nilsson; A. Svensson, D. Andersson, F. Ljungberg, J. Elmander (S. Larsson 79); Z. Ibrahimovic (M. Rosenberg 46), H. Larsson (K. Kallstrom 87).
Spain: I. Casillas; S. Ramos, C. Puyol (R. Albiol 24), C. Marchena, J. Capdevila; M. Senna; A. Iniesta (S. Cazorla 58), Xavi (C. Fabregas 58), D. Silva; D. Villa, F. Torres.
Scorers: Ibrahimovic 34 (Sweden), Torres 15, Villa 90 (Spain)
Referee: Pieter Vink (Netherlands).