Spain grabbed a stoppage time winner against Sweden in their second Euro ’08 fixture to move top of Group D. Goals from Torres and Villa either side of Ibrahimovic’s leveller, gave the Reds all three points.

The Spaniards were unchanged from the team that convincingly defeated Russia 4-1 in their opening game, with Torres playing upfront.

Sweden on the other-hand, were forced to make two changes to the side that beat Greece. Right-back Niclas Alexandersson and right-midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson were replaced by Fredrik Stoor and striker Johan Elmander, with boss Lars Lagerback switching from his customary 4-4-2 formation to 4-3-3.

Luis Aragones’ men started the game strongly with Sergio Ramos and Fernando Torres linking up well on the right-hand side. Spain’s early pressure paid off as the Spanish number ‘9’ opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark with a great finish. David Silva’s cross-shot from the left-hand edge of the box was brilliantly met by Torres who diverted the ball into the back of the net.

The Scandinavians almost grabbed an equaliser less than sixty seconds later, though luckily for Spain, Elmander failed to see the unmarked Ljungberg in the middle, and instead scuffed his shot into the side-netting.

After Spain’s opener, Lars Lagerback’s enjoyed their best spell of the game and following a mix-up in the box, the ball fell to Zlatan Ibrahimovic who shot past Iker Casillas to draw the sides level.

Spain could well have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time as David Silva was bundled in the box by Elmander, but the referee waved play on.

Fernando Torres created his team’s first chance following the break as the striker turned his marker inside the penalty area, but unfortunately dragged his shot just wide of the near post.

Luis Aragones’ team continued to push forward, and Spain were almost rewarded with a second following a great move down the middle. David Silva’s shot come back off goalkeeper Isaksson, who then managed to parry David Villa’s follow-up. The ball broke to Fernando Torres, but his goalbound shot struck a defender and was deflected wide for a corner.

Villa and Fernando Torres linked-up well on the edge of the box, but the Liverpool striker’s low shot was blocked well by Andreas Isaksson in the Sweden goal.

The Scandinavians looked happy to settle for point, but with time running out, up popped Villa to slot home Spain’s second of the evening deep into stoppage time.


Final Score: Spain 2-1 Sweden

Spain: Casillas, Ramos, Puyol (Albiol, 25), Marchena, Capdevila, Xabi (Cesc Frabregas, 59), Silva, Senna, Iniesta (Cazorla, 59), Villa, Torres.

Bookings: Marchena

Goals: Torres 15, Villa 93

Sweden: Isaksson, Stoor, Nilsson, Mellberg, Hansson, Svensson, Ljungberg, D Andersson, H Larsson (Kallstrom, 87), Ibrahimovic (Rosenberg, 49), Elmander (Larsson, 79).

Bookings: Svensson

Goals: Ibrahimovic, 33