Euro 2020 Match 10: Penalty the Decider in Sweden Comeback

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Euro 2020 Match 10: Sweden v Ireland

Penalty the Decider in Sweden Comeback

June 17, 2020

Sweden 3 Ireland 2

 

Robin Quaison’s penalty proved the difference between Sweden and Ireland, the former who came from two goals down to open their campaign with a win.

 

Sweden travelled to Ireland in the hope of showing the home side how Euros are played. Marcus Berg had the first shot of the match; the ball trickling along the ground as the Irish goalkeeper easily collected.

 

The match soon took place in the middle of the park, with neither side gaining an edge. Ireland tried working more down the left wing, while in right midfield, Sweden sought to play quick one-two passes.

 

Andreas Granqvist’s injured shoulder from falling after an aerial challenge meant Sweden were down a substitute early. Little deterred the away side as Sebastian Larsson attempted a shot amongst multiple defenders.

 

In the 27th minute, Albin Ekdal took a ping after a clearance from a poor corner, but straight to Darren Randolph in goals.

 

Instead, David McGoldrick scored with his head after Ireland’s dominance down the left wing, coupled with a perfect cross to the striker as he raced into the box with no marking man.

 

James Collins then weaved around his marking man minutes later, only the shot was wide, but it would have sent the crowd into a frenzy, had they gone up two-nil inside 35 minutes.

 

Instead, Jeff Hendrick weaved his own way around the Swedish defence and scored from long range to give Ireland the ultimate edge in the match.

 

After the break, Collins had another ping from long range, only to hit his own player as the ball petered out to Robin Olsen.

 

Sweden countered, and won a crucial corner, from which Robin Quaison scored with his head as he leant back and directed the ball into the back of the net.

 

Emil Forsberg then tried from a third of the way down the field, needing a Randolph parry over the bar. Ireland failed to clear the header, and Ekdal stole the ball and had a shot, only for Randolph to dive and punt the ball to relative safety.

 

Down the other end, McGoldrick nearly gifted Ireland their third with a header off a corner flying straight to the arms of Olsen. Collins also had a header coming in from a cross, only Olsen was up to the task.

 

Ireland attacked in the hope of securing the match, only it was Marcus Berg who made the most of a failed clearance, and equalised the match with a deft touch on goal.

 

Ireland’s substitute Alan Judge had a chance trickle along the ground, only for Olsen to cover it easily. Both sides looked dangerous with nine minutes left, only for Sweden to have the final shots. Forsberg’s power strike hit the woodwork, while the rebound eventually fell to him again, and his second strike deflected off a defender for a penalty. Player of the Match Quaison made no mistake, and Sweden had come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with an additional time spot kick.