Sweden joy as Larsson double dumps Nigeria

Group F
Sweden 2
Nigeria 1

Striker Henrik Larsson scored twice as Sweden came from a goal down to beat Nigeria 2-1 yesterday and eliminate the African side.

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 equaliser after 35 minutes before winning and converting a 62nd-minute penalty which lifted Sweden to the four-point mark after a highly entertaining game.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback thought his side deserved their victory.

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

"It was a more open game than we usually play but I thought we played very well."

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 and Joseph Yobo's meaty long-range shot struck the post late on.

Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde said Sweden enjoyed more than their fair share of good fortune.

"It was luck that Sweden won this game," he said. "We hit the post a couple of times and I think we were unfortunate... that's football."

Having taken just one point from their opening 1-1 draw with England and with Argentina still to play on Wednesday, 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 Shorunmu and, from the resulting corner, Johan Mjallby's goalbound header was cleared off the line by Justice Christopher.

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

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

Larsson levelled 10 minutes before half-time as he sidestepped two defenders and calmly beat Shorunmu from close range, but Sweden's defence was suddenly vulnerable.

Eight minutes before the break, they survived a scare when 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 des-pite Shorunmu's valiant effort.

Sweden: Hedman; Mellberg, Mjallby, Jakobsson, Lucic; Alexandersson, Linderoth, A. Svensson (M. Svensson 84), Ljungberg; Allback (Andersson 64), Larsson.

Nigeria: Shorunmu; Udeze, West, Okoronkwo, Babayaro (Kanu 66); Yobo, Okocha, Christopher; Ogbe-che (Ikedia 71), Aghahowa, Utaka.

Referee: Rene Ortube (Bolivia).

Scorers: Larsson 35, 62 pen.; Aghahowa 27.

Yellow cards: Mjallby (S), Alexandersson (S); West (N).

HT: 1-1. Attendance: 36,194.