Sweden 2-0 Russia
It was all smiles at the Friends Arena in Solna tonight as Sweden made it back-to-back wins to grab promotion from Group B2 right under the noses of Russia.
This match was the last big UEFA Nations League game of Group B2, and it needed a brave turnaround for Janne Andersson’s Sweden to pip Russia at the post.
Sweden had to win their last two games and after beating Turkey with a hard-fought 1-0 win, they were up to the task again. The Swedes topped a group containing Germany and Mexico at Russia 2018 so they are a team to be taken very seriously.
With the pre-match UEFA Nations League 2018 odds favouring a home win, this was no shock result—even though Stanislav Cherchesov’s Russia have been on a high since the beginning of the World Cup.
A goal in each half, one from Victor Lindelof and the second a close-range effort from Marcus Berg gave Sweden an ultimately comfortable win.
Highlights of the game
Sweden coped admirably at World Cup 2018 without their former star Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibra was undeniably their most exciting attacking talent and a big favourite with SBOBET football fans, and without him the Swedes can often look rather more functional than frightening.
But the hosts certainly had the better of this game and bossed the first half, with Martin Olsson lively down the left flank.
Olsson thought he had broken the deadlock, firing home after he had latched on to a Lindelof through ball, but he was denied by the linesman’s offside flag. And as Sweden continued to press, Berg found himself in useful positions and had two headers on goal and a shot saved.
Russia had Artem Dzyuba back up front, which was a boost as he’s scoring at a rate of one in two this season with ten goals from 20 games. While Russia offered little in the way of forward play in the early stages, he did have an attempt on goal with a header straight into the arms of Robin Olsen.
The home crowd rose to its feet when Sweden’s captain Andreas Granqvist came close to scoring. The big centre-half climbed highest to meet a corner and headed powerfully towards goal, but Russia keeper Andrey Lunev made a brilliant save down to his left.
With only four minutes remaining until halftime, Granqvist’s defensive partner, Lindelof, went one better. Mikael Lustig swung a corner over and when it arrived at Lindelof’s feet, the Manchester United man gleefully lashed home his second international goal.
That meant Russia had to come out and score to take back the top spot and guarantee promotion to the premier tier. Dzyuba, too often isolated up front and swamped by yellow shirts, did his best in the opening exchanges of the second half; however, the Swedish defence held firm.
And then the Friends Arena erupted again, on 72 minutes. Seb Larsson had an effort well saved, but when the ball fell at Berg’s feet. his persistence was rewarded as he stabbed the ball home to give the team some breathing space.
Key statistics
This game was no classic, but Sweden showed enough character and class at the key moments to make them worthy winners of Group B2. With 61 percent possession and 13 shots to nine, they had the better of the game. Keeper Robin Olsen also had a quiet evening.
Russia came into this game on the back of a 3-0 thumping at the hands of a rejuvenated Germany, and that may have taken some confidence from the World Cup hosts. Even the return of Dzyuba couldn’t give them the UEFA Nations League 2018 results they need.
And the home win has evened up the head to head results between the two sides. In the six matches played since 1994, both teams have won two and there have been two draws.
What’s next?
So that’s it for now. Turkey have gone down from Group B2, but there’s another Nations League B season for Russia after Cherchesov’s team conceded a dominant position to finish second. Sweden head off to League A, and after a World Cup quarter-final, that makes it a pretty fine 2018 for Janne Andersson.
The next big tournament kicks off in March, and both Sweden and Russia will be determined to make a fast start in the European Championships qualification.
Russia look in danger of falling back into mediocrity after a golden summer, and Cherchesov has work to do. But for now, the smiles will stick in Sweden.
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