Sweden recorded a comfortable 3-2 victory over Iceland on Wednesday, with early goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ola Toivonen putting the hosts in the driving seat. Kolbein Sigthorsson pulled one back before half-time, but Christian Wilhelmsson put the bed shortly before time. Hallgrimur Jonasson grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors in added time. The hosts got off to a flying start, with skipper Ibrahimovic opening the scoring just two minutes in. Sebastian Larsson picked out the forward in the area, and the AC Milan man put his side ahead with a clinical finish. Iceland, having succumbed to two late goals against France earlier in the week, looked to respond immediately through Sigthorsson. Ari Freyr Skulason appeared to put the striker through on goal, only to see the Ajax man be ruled offside. Sweden made it two shortly after, Toivonen converting from yards out to double his side’s lead. Behrang Safari found the midfielder in front of goal with a slicing cross, presenting the PSV man with the most convertible of chances. The open nature of the game saw Sightorsson put his side back in it just before the half hour mark. The striker showed his poacher’s instinct by latching on to a Skulason delivery into the area, heading home from some seven yards out. The hosts enjoyed the majority of chances up to halftime, with both Ibrahimovic and Kim Kallstrom squandering chances to restore their side’s two goal advantage. The towering forward failed to direct his header on target from yards out, before the latter blasted a free kick from a decent position well wide. A trio of halftime substitutions from both sides failed to inject genuine energy in the game, with neither side getting a sight of goal until the 58th minute. Aron Gunnarsson attempted to draw the visitors level from long range, but the Cardiff City midfielder failed to hit the target. The visitors then saw two efforts blocked in quick succession, Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and Rurik Gislason both denied by sturdy defending from the Swedish back line. Toivonen appeared to pose the biggest threat to the Iceland goal following Ibrahimovic’s substitution. The midfielder appeared to lack the composed nature of his compatriot however, failing to hit the target with two close range headers. Wilhelmsson put the match to bed in the 77th minute, converting a close range effort after Samuel Holmen had done well to put the Istanbul midfielder through on goal. A late corner allowed Jonasson to grab a consolation goal, the defender rising above the crowd to head home Sigurdsson’s delivery. Sweden will look to build on this victory when they take on Serbia next week in what will be their last match in their preparations for Euro 2012. The Blagult will play their opening fixture of the tournament against co-hosts Ukraine on June 9.

Visit link:
Sweden 3-2 Iceland: Ibrahimovic on target as hosts continue Euro 2012 plans with victory