Sweden vs Paraquay

by Golden Goal | June 15, 2006 at 09:11 am

1029 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

BERLIN, Jun 14 (SW) - Both Sweden and Paraguay will be looking to recover from dismal openers when they face each other at the Olympiastadion in Group B on Thursday evening.

Golden Goal reporting:

The World Cup is set for its first 9-5 work week of the tournament.
Over the weekend, England met Paraguay for the opening match on Saturday in
Frankfurt's, Commerzbank Arena. Host team, Germany, opened the
tournament in Munich (the capital of Bavaria) against Costa Rica. On Friday, the host team, Germany won 4-2 over Costa Rica... While Ecuador defeated Poland 2-0.

In Monday's early game Australia was down 1-0 in the second half,but scorched Japan with three goals in six minutes to win a big match 3-1.

In the second match it was a very good showing for the Czech Republic as
they proved that they are the team to beat in this group, leaving the
Americans with an uphill battle for the rest of this round an dbeating them 3-0...

The final game of the day was suprisingly a bit of a track meet
for two teams known for their defense, as Italy ran away with a 2-0
victory in their World Cup debut...

Tuesday starts as South Korea comes back in the second half,
after Togo is hit with a red card, losing their captain, an extra man,
and the match 2-1...

In the second game of the day France was off-target on more than one
occasion in their opening match against Switzerland. The match ended
with an unsatisfying stalemate: 0-0.

And the final game of Tuesday witnessed Croatia play a heavily
favored Brazilian team. Brazil showed their usual consistency but
Croatia played a strong game holding the Brazilians to one goal, which
proved to be the final score. 1-0...

Yesterday was the final day of round one and the start of round two as Germany kicked off the second round of matches.

The first game was Spain vs. Ukraine. It is the Ukraine's first time in theWorld Cup and they played a very talented Spanish team. Spain was justto much for the Ukrainians as they could not handle the spanish strikers,losing 4-0...

The next match was easily one of the most thrilling bouts of the
week as Tunisia scored in the final minute of extra time to tie Saudia
Arabia 2-2. The scoring was brilliant and at times acrobatic...

The final game of the day signaled the start of the second round
as Germany played Poland. This was a very close team with a lot on the
line for both teams. However, in the closing minute of extra time the
host team, Germany put themselves into the second round with the go
ahead goal, literally with time expiring. Germany won 1-0.

In the first game of today's action, Ecuador has beaten Costa
Rica 3-0, and advanced both themselves and Germany to the round of 16.
Ecuador looked very impressive, and must still play Germany to decide
the winner of this group. Ecuador still has not given up a goal in this
World Cup, and has scored 5 against their two opponents...

It is now official England has advanced to the round of 16 by beating Trinidad 2-0. The first half was a real scare for England as both teams left the pitch with a tie. And then it took until around the 80th minute before England stepped it up, and scored two goals to pacify the English faithful. However, Trinidad, who played very well are still alive but need some help to advance...

Check back for score updates and if you are at the World Cup or anywhere inthe world enjoying the Tournament you can share your photographs, video, or audio with the world.

Also if you are mobile. You can share live updates or photographs from Berlin on your mobile phone by grabbing this NP#59921. And then emailing your photographs or video from your mobile-

to: news@nowpublic.com

Body of the email- NP!59921

Once you click send you will update this story live from anywhere in the world.

Let the fun begin. Paraguay/Sweden!

This should be a highly contested match as both teams need a win to catch England...

As well both teams are searching for their first points of the World Cup...

Paraguay was close to pulling the upset against England in the first round, while heavily favored Sweden was held to a tie with Trinidad. This should cause both teams to be aggressive as they look to advance...

A very polite exchange at mid-field to start the match.

12:08pm

Paraguay showing that South American style as they press first in this match. Of course Paraguay is a land locked country bordering Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina...

This is no small company to be land locked by, and perhaps a little neighborly luck can rub off on this team from Paraguay...

However, Sweden earned a free kick which is defended well, and ends in a turnover...

Sweden takes a long kick, hammering towards the goal, but the keeper for Paraguay makes a great safe on a tremendous shot...

Two other corner kicks are awarded to Sweden, but both end up missing their target...

12:21pm

Sweden with a great chance to score as the goalie for Paraguay and his defensive mates were beaten, but it is not to be as one last defender for Paraguay taps the ball back into the hands of his keeper...

Paraguay is pressing well with some nice passing, and the South Americans earn a corner for their effort... However the kick is denied and Sweden is back on the attack...

12:38pm

The players for both teams are working hard to move up and down the pitch, but it has remained a drought in the scoring category...

The Paraguayan striker, Valdez takes a shot on goal but is just off and cannot finish the run...

Sweden again with a nice shot on goal but the veteran keeper for Paraguay makes a nice stop...

It was in a friendly match that Paraguay prevailed in, and the last game these two countries have played against eachother.

Time is winding down for this half, and the score remains tied at 0-0. Can either team knock in a energy booster before the half?

The Paraguayan striker slams a shot on goal as the player was lurking in the penalty area of Sweden. But the kick goes wide and out of bounds, handing over the ball to Sweden who immediately pushes with numbers, and comes up short with what appeared to be a lack of concentration by the Swedish striker...

But that will do it as Sweden and Paraguay head into the locker-room tied at 0-0...

And we are back to the action...

1:11pm

Paraguay is pushing early on in this half... And sure enough they earn a free kick, while Sweden earns a yellow card..

Nothing comes of the initial kick, but Paraguay earns another corner and after a srike turns the ball over to the Swedish team...

There has been quite a bit of slipping around the pitch for both sides in this match. The field appears a bit slick out there in the Olympiastadium...

Sweden earns a free kick just outside the penalty box. Could this be the moment for the Swedes? No, a great save by the Paragyuan keeper to stop a hard strike by Sweden offensive unit...

1:20pm

Oh my goodness! What a play on goal for both sides as we just witnessed Sweden go in for the score, but come up short by inches... The Swedish striker had a break away on goal, kicking the ball over the goalies head, ending up all alone behind him with the ball for the certain goal when out of nowhere a Paraguayan defender came in and kicked the ball out of the goal entrance to keep the tie in tact... Just brilliant play on both sides...

1:30pm

Sweden is appearing more and more frustrated as they
are taking good shots on goal and really pushing the tempo here, but
they have not been able to turn the corner against this strong team
from Paraguay...

Both teams are really sensing the urgency of it all...

1:43pm

Time is winding down yet again for this match and both teams are struggling to score a precious goal...

Wow.
Another amazing stop by the Paraguyan defense as Sweden all most
knocked in a acrobatic goal about a foot from the goal...

1:47pm- Seven Minutes left to play in regulation...

As the battle for a score and a key position in this group continues...

And it has happened for Sweden!

Goal!!! Goal!!!

It started as a pass from the Swedish striker, which landed on one head and over to another with the final header coming from Ljungberg (9) as the ball sails into the empty side of the net. And the roar of the crowd is just deafening...

In fact the original cheer coming after the tie breaker has not really ended in Berlin... Paraguay plays a brilliant defensive game, but gives up the score in the closing moments... And for this South American team their World Cup dream is over for this year... While Sweden is still right in the middle of this group, playing one more game to try and advance to the next round...

And that will do it as Sweden steals the game in the final moments...

Final Score: Sweden 1 - Paraguay 0

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon