Thursday, March 28, 2024

World Cup qualifying: Germany 4 Sweden 4

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 16 Oct 2012

84 Views

Germany threw away a four-goal lead as a late Sweden comeback saw them surrender all three points on Tuesday.

Miroslav Klose got the hosts off to a brilliant start as he netted two early goals, putting him two strikes away from equalling Gerd Muller’s record of 68 goals for the national team.

Per Mertesacker added another before the break and soon after the restart Mesut Ozil gave Joachim Loew’s side a comfortable lead.

The Swedes staged a magnificent comeback in the second half, with Erik Hamren’s half-time substitutions having a great effect as they had a hand in all the goals.

Strikes from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mikael Lustig and Johan Elmander set up a tense finish and the visitors completed an astounding recovery in stoppage time through Rasmus Elm.

But the first half could not have contrasted more starkly with Germany taking the lead in the eighth minute.

Philipp Lahm played in Marco Reus and his cutback was smashed into the top corner by Klose.

Things only got better for the hosts as Klose added his second in the 15th minute following some intricate one-touch play.

Reus initiated the move, scything his way into the box with two successive one-twos before pulling the ball back to the 34-year-old who fired home at the second time of asking.

Germany got their third in the 39th minute when a cross from the left was kept in play at the back post by Muller, whose looped header was rifled past the keeper by an unmarked Mertesacker.

Germany did not let up after the break and after Muller was once more denied by Isaksson, a four-goal cushion was achieved in the 56th minute.

At the end of a swift break, Muller delivered a cross that found Ozil at the back post. The Real Madrid man controlled the ball on his chest before angling a shot into the far corner.

Sweden pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute as Ibrahimovic beat the offside trap to steer a header past Manuel Neuer from Kim Kallstrom’s ball forward.

Seemingly galvanised by that goal, another ball over the top, again courtesy of Kallstrom, created another chance for the visitors.

Lustig controlled it well and with his second touch powered a shot at Neuer that somehow squirmed into the goal.

Extraordinarily, the Swedes came to within one goal of the hosts, stunning the Berlin crowd in the process.

In space on the left, Alexander Kacanikilic picked out Elmander who beat Holger Badstuber to the ball and poked it in at the far post.

Tobias Sana blazed over in front of an open goal in the 85th minute but unperturbed, Sweden equalised at the death.

A cross from the left was not dealt with by Mertesacker and his header fell to Elm who volleyed in.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SoccerNews

Soccernews.com is news blog for soccer with comprehensive coverage of all the major leagues in Europe, as well as MLS in the United States. In addition we offer breaking news for transfers and transfer rumors, ticket sales, betting tips and offers, match previews, and in-depth editorials.

You can follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/soccernews.com or Twitter: @soccernewsfeed.

SHARE OR COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

WE RECOMMEND

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This field is required *

Join the conversation!

or Register

Live Scores

advertisement

Betting Guide Advertisement

advertisement

Become a Writer
More More
Top