In a game of good technical quality, in which both teams showed tactical organization, good defense and strength in attack, Sweden proved superior and thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in the early hours of this Monday (15) at the Monterrey stadium, in Mexico, in Group F of the World Cup.
With the result, Sweden takes the lead in the group, with 3 points, leaving the Netherlands and Japan with 1 point, after a draw between them in the afternoon. The flashlight is from Tunisia, zeroed.
After just 6 minutes, Sweden took the lead with Ayari. In a throw into the area, goalkeeper Chamakh came out of the goal and punched the ball before striker Isak arrived.
Gyökeres caught the ball first time, but the ball hit the Tunisian defense and left the area. Ayari then grabbed the rebound and hit a bomb into the right corner of the goal. The ball was so strong that it passed through the goalkeeper’s hands.
Son of Tunisians, the midfielder did not celebrate, but was hugged by his teammates. Afterwards, he just knelt on the lawn and raised his arms in gratitude.
The duel continued with good attacking moves from both sides until the 29th minute, when Sweden expanded.
Gyökeres received it in the middle and passed it to Isak to launch a counterattack on the left. The number 9 cut defender Talbi and shot low and into the left corner of Chamakh, who fell but did not reach the ball.
With two own goals on the scoreboard, the Tunisians tried to press even more and left space behind, where the Swedes tried to expand. But, in a set piece, Tunisia reduced the difference in the 42nd minute.
With a free kick on the right, the ball fell to the Tunisian number 10, Hannibal, who crossed from the edge of the small area. Rekik headed the ball past goalkeeper Nordfeldt’s corner.
The second half started with the same scenario and ended like the first, with the Swedes celebrating.
Tunisia even tried to accelerate the pace to try to equalize, but without posing any real danger to the rival goal.
That’s when Sweden expanded, with Gyökeres, in the 14th minute. When Tunisia played the ball, Isak took the ball from midfielder Skhiri at the edge of the area, and the ball was left for his attacking partner to shoot past Chamakh.
The European team also scored the fourth with Svanberg, in his first touch of the ball after replacing Karlstrom.
He celebrated the goal twice, because the VAR (video referee) had invalidated the play, stating that he was in an offside position. But a touch to the toe of Isak’s boot on the way took him out of the irregular position and the referee awarded the goal, taking him to a new celebration with the team.
In stoppage time, midfielder Ayari scored his second goal and closed the Swedish rout with a strong shot from the edge of the area, with no chance for Chamakh. This time, he got a little more excited about the celebration.
In addition to Ayari, another highlight of the duel was Isak, who scored a goal and provided two assists. With great mobility, he played freely on both sides of the pitch and gave the Tunisian defense a lot of work.
Sweden returns to the field next Saturday (20) against the Netherlands, in Houston. Tunisia faces Japan on Sunday (21), in Monterrey.
