Sweden 1-0 South Korea: Granqvist Scores VAR Penalty

After a peculiar build-up to this game where the South Korean team changed jersey numbers to confuse the Swedish and played their final warm up game behind closed doors in Austria.

Emil Forsberg is filling in the shoes of Zlatan Ibrahimović after he retired from international football playing for Sweden since the Euro 2000.

Sweden is playing their first group game against South Korea with Son Heung-Min having a spectacular season at Tottenham Hotspur.

No Victor Lindelof in the starting XI after contracting a bug yesterday.

First Half

5^th minute Son swings in a free kick into the Swedish box, but a foul was committed inside the box against South Korea.

First booking of the game at the 12^th minute after Lee Seung-Woo’s follow up caught Ekdal.

A great challenge by Kim Young-Gwon won at the 18^th minute to deny Andreas Granqvist a chance to shoot in front of the goal.

What a terrific double save by Cho Hyun-Woo to prevent Marcus Berg to score at the 20^th minute.

South Korea’s left back Park Joo-Ho is forced to come off after landing heavily on his leg for Kim Min-Woo at the 28^th minute.

Brilliant tackle by Lee Jae-Sung on Berg inside the box to prevent him from scoring.

Granqvist slips and takes out Son to prevent him from countering on the half-hour mark.

Son led an outburst from his defensive half into the box but received no one to cross into the box on the 34^th minute.

42^nd minute Kim Sung-yueng tackled Ola Toivonen inside the box but he falls looking for a penalty, so the referee rightly gave a corner instead.

46^th minute a great delivery to Larsson inside the box but went wide.

Halftime Sweden 0-0 South Korea

Sweden had the better chances in the game but could not finish while South Korea looks vulnerable.

Second Half

51^st minute Koo Ja-Cheol hit the side net with a header. A more attacking football for South Korea.

First yellow card in the second half is directed to Hwang Hee-Chan after giving away a freekick at the 55^th minute.

Another save by the South Korean keeper at the 55^th minute from a good a freekick by Larsson which was met by a slight header.

Hwang stole the ball from Granqvist near the corner kick but the cross was met with a block at the 55^th minute.

Penalty appeal at the 62^nd minute but the referee let it play on. However a VAR check forced the game to stop. A massive roar from the Swedish bench and fans.

South Korean Kim Min-Woo took out Viktor Claesson inside the box.

Penalty given.

GOAL – Andreas Granqvist – 65^th Minute – Sweden 1-0 South Korea

The goalkeeper went the wrong way and Granqvist slotted the ball confidently to the right-hand side.

A lot of time wasting by Sweden.

81^st minute Son crosses the ball into the box from a freekick which was met with a Swedish header.

The best chance for South Korea in the 91^st minute was by Hwang who headered the ball wide.

Full-time Sweden 1-0 South Korea

Sweden wasted a lot of chances in the game and South Korea’s attack did not seem lethal enough to trouble Swedish keeper.

Forsberg and Son failed to have an impact on the game.

A correct decision by VAR gave Sweden the penalty to win the game.

Source of Image: BBC