Ibrahimovic-led Sweden shoots down England
Source: Agencies |
November 16, 2012, Friday
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ZLATAN Ibrahimovic illuminated a low-key night of international friendlies on Wednesday, scoring an audacious overhead kick from 30 yards to cap his four-goal display in Sweden's 4-2 win over England.
Ibrahimovic's one-man show in Stockholm, featuring what both his opponents and pundits hailed as one of the greatest goals seen in recent years, overshadowed two high-profile matches between fierce European rivals, with the Netherlands and Germany drawing 0-0 and France coming from behind to beat Italy 2-1 away.
The prolific Lionel Messi was kept scoreless as Argentina was held 0-0 in Saudi Arabia, while Portugal, missing the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, surprisingly drew 2-2 in Gabon. Pedro Rodriguez scored twice as Spain defeated host Panama 5-1.
It was left to another of the world's leading strikers to take the plaudits, with Ibrahimovic's acrobatic strike with his back to goal described by England captain Steven Gerrard, who made his 100th international appearance, as "one of the best goals I've ever seen live."
"When I saw the goalkeeper was out I tried to put it against the goal, and luckily it went in," Ibrahimovic said. "It's both luck and skill."
After poking Sweden ahead in the 20th minute from close range, the Paris Saint-Germain striker made it 2-2 by chesting down Anders Svensson's lofted pass and volleying home past Joe Hart.
Ibrahimovic's skimming freekick from 35 yards somehow beat Hart before the Sweden captain caused more embarrassment for the goalkeeper by capping the victory in stoppage time in memorable style. Hart's headed clearance was latched onto by Ibrahimovic, who span and produced a bicycle kick that looped over the goalkeeper and two defenders into an empty net from well outside the area and from an angle.
The stadium erupted as Ibrahimovic wheeled away in delight with his shirt off, having become the first player to score four times in a match against England.
"I don't know if you're going to see another one like that in your life," Sweden coach Erik Hamren said.
England's goals came from Danny Welbeck and debutant Steven Caulker in a four-minute span before halftime.
It was the second straight match that Sweden had scored four goals - on the previous occasion, it rallied from 0-4 down to draw 4-4 with Germany in a World Cup qualifier last month. The Germans kept a clean sheet on Wednesday in a dull stalemate with the Netherlands in Amsterdam, with both countries electing to start with fringe players because of injury or illness.
Italy slips
Italy slipped to its sixth consecutive friendly defeat when Bafetimbi Gomis struck in the 67th minute from Patrice Evra's pass. Stephen El Shaarawy gave Italy the lead with his first international goal, only for Mathieu Valbuena to equalize two minutes with a superb solo goal.
The in-form Luis Suarez scored in the second half to cap Uruguay's 3-1 win in Poland.
Portugal came from a goal down to go ahead through scores by Pizzi and Hugo Almeida. Andre Biyogo Poko buried a 70th-minute penalty to earn a committed Gabon a draw against the world's No. 4-ranked team.
Spain only needed about 15 minutes to get rolling with Pedro's first goal against overmatched Panama. David Villa, Sergio Ramos and Markel Susaeta got the other goals for the defending World Cup and European champions.
In Asian World Cup qualifiers, Japan beat Oman 2-1, Iraq edged Jordan 1-0, Qatar defeated Lebanon 1-0 and Uzbekistan beat Iran 1-0. The win sends Uzbekistan to the top of Group A, a point ahead of South Korea, Iran and Qatar.
In Johannesburg, African Cup of Nations champion Zambia beat South Africa 1-0 on Collins Mbesuma's 64th-minute strike.
In friendlies played in the United States, Neymar scored in the 64th minute as Brazil salvaged a 1-1 draw with Colombia and Nigeria got goals from Ideye Brown and Igiebor Nosa in a five-minute span in the second half to defeat Venezuela 3-1.
Ibrahimovic's one-man show in Stockholm, featuring what both his opponents and pundits hailed as one of the greatest goals seen in recent years, overshadowed two high-profile matches between fierce European rivals, with the Netherlands and Germany drawing 0-0 and France coming from behind to beat Italy 2-1 away.
The prolific Lionel Messi was kept scoreless as Argentina was held 0-0 in Saudi Arabia, while Portugal, missing the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, surprisingly drew 2-2 in Gabon. Pedro Rodriguez scored twice as Spain defeated host Panama 5-1.
It was left to another of the world's leading strikers to take the plaudits, with Ibrahimovic's acrobatic strike with his back to goal described by England captain Steven Gerrard, who made his 100th international appearance, as "one of the best goals I've ever seen live."
"When I saw the goalkeeper was out I tried to put it against the goal, and luckily it went in," Ibrahimovic said. "It's both luck and skill."
After poking Sweden ahead in the 20th minute from close range, the Paris Saint-Germain striker made it 2-2 by chesting down Anders Svensson's lofted pass and volleying home past Joe Hart.
Ibrahimovic's skimming freekick from 35 yards somehow beat Hart before the Sweden captain caused more embarrassment for the goalkeeper by capping the victory in stoppage time in memorable style. Hart's headed clearance was latched onto by Ibrahimovic, who span and produced a bicycle kick that looped over the goalkeeper and two defenders into an empty net from well outside the area and from an angle.
The stadium erupted as Ibrahimovic wheeled away in delight with his shirt off, having become the first player to score four times in a match against England.
"I don't know if you're going to see another one like that in your life," Sweden coach Erik Hamren said.
England's goals came from Danny Welbeck and debutant Steven Caulker in a four-minute span before halftime.
It was the second straight match that Sweden had scored four goals - on the previous occasion, it rallied from 0-4 down to draw 4-4 with Germany in a World Cup qualifier last month. The Germans kept a clean sheet on Wednesday in a dull stalemate with the Netherlands in Amsterdam, with both countries electing to start with fringe players because of injury or illness.
Italy slips
Italy slipped to its sixth consecutive friendly defeat when Bafetimbi Gomis struck in the 67th minute from Patrice Evra's pass. Stephen El Shaarawy gave Italy the lead with his first international goal, only for Mathieu Valbuena to equalize two minutes with a superb solo goal.
The in-form Luis Suarez scored in the second half to cap Uruguay's 3-1 win in Poland.
Portugal came from a goal down to go ahead through scores by Pizzi and Hugo Almeida. Andre Biyogo Poko buried a 70th-minute penalty to earn a committed Gabon a draw against the world's No. 4-ranked team.
Spain only needed about 15 minutes to get rolling with Pedro's first goal against overmatched Panama. David Villa, Sergio Ramos and Markel Susaeta got the other goals for the defending World Cup and European champions.
In Asian World Cup qualifiers, Japan beat Oman 2-1, Iraq edged Jordan 1-0, Qatar defeated Lebanon 1-0 and Uzbekistan beat Iran 1-0. The win sends Uzbekistan to the top of Group A, a point ahead of South Korea, Iran and Qatar.
In Johannesburg, African Cup of Nations champion Zambia beat South Africa 1-0 on Collins Mbesuma's 64th-minute strike.
In friendlies played in the United States, Neymar scored in the 64th minute as Brazil salvaged a 1-1 draw with Colombia and Nigeria got goals from Ideye Brown and Igiebor Nosa in a five-minute span in the second half to defeat Venezuela 3-1.
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