June 15, 2006
LJUNGBERG STRIKES LATE
Sweden eliminates Paraguay with 1-0 win

BERLIN, Germany -- Freddie Ljungberg scored in the dying minutes as Sweden beat Paraguay 1-0 in a Group B match Thursday at Olympiastadion. Ljungberg knocked in a header from six yards out off a pass from Marcus Allback in the 89th minute to give Sweden its first goal and first victory of the World Cup.

Sweden sits in good position to advance out of the group stage. With four points through two games, a draw against England would get Sweden through as the group's second place team while a win would give the Swedes the group title. If Sweden loses, the side can still advance to the second round with a Trinidad & Tobago loss or tie.

England clinched a spot in the second round with a 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago earlier in the day. Paraguay, meanwhile, has been eliminated.

Henrik Larsson whipped a free kick around the Paraguayan wall from 19 yards out but goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla dived to his left and stopped the shot.

Allback, who came on at halftime, was inches away from putting Sweden ahead in the 60th minute. Allback beat Paraguay's offside trap and broke in alone on Bobadilla. Allback collected the ball at the top of the penalty area and chipped the ball over Bobadilla's head. The ball bounced and was nearly over the goal line when Paraguayan defender Denis Caniza raced back and cleared the ball out of danger.

Allback and Larsson nearly connected for a score in the 68th minute. Allback spun free from a Paraguayan defender and crossed the ball to Larsson but the veteran striker headed the ball softly over the crossbar.

Nelson Haedo Valdez struck a long-range shot on frame but Sweden keeper Andreas Isaksson plucked the ball from mid-air with no problems.

Bobadilla kept Sweden off the scoreboard with an excellent reflex save. Larsson won a header in to penalty area and left it inside the six-yard box for Allback, who spun and kicked it the goal. However, Bobadilla did well to stop Allback's point-blank shot.

Edgar Barreto put a dangerous shot on goal in the 84th minute but his attempt deflected off a Swedish defender and sailed just over the crossbar.

With the match headed for a scoreless draw, Allback knocked found a cross deep inside the penalty area. He left it for Ljungberg and the Arsenal standout knocked the ball into the back of the net.

Paraguay has yet to score a goal in the World Cup.

Paraguay
Aldo Bobadilla; Jorge Nunez, Carlos Gamarra, Julio Cesar Caceres, Denis Caniza; Carlos Bonet (Edgar Barreto-81), Carlos Paredes, Roberto Acuna, Cristian Riveros (Julio Dos Santos-62); Roque Santa Cruz (Dante Lopez-63), Nelson Haedo Valdez.

Sweden
Andreas Isaksson; Erik Edman, Olof Mellberg, Teddy Lucic, Niclas Alexandersson; Freddie Ljungberg, Tobias Linderoth, Christian Wilhelmsson (Matias Jonson-68), Kim Kallstrom (Johna Elmander-86); Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Marcus Allback-46).

Goals
Sweden -- Freddie Ljungberg 89

Discipline
Paraguay -- Denis Caniza (yellow card) 3
Sweden -- Tobias Linderoth (yellow card) 14
Sweden -- Teddy Lucic (yellow card) 48
Paraguay -- Roberto Acuna (yellow card) 51
Sweden -- Marcus Allback (yellow card) 60
Paraguay -- Carlos Paredes (yellow card) 74
Paraguay -- Edgar Barreto (yellow card) 85

Attendance: -- 72,000