England play out exciting draw with Sweden
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-21 09:18
COLOGNE, June 20 - England drew 2-2 with Sweden on Tuesday to earn a
second round World Cup clash with Ecuador while the Swedes go through to face
hosts Germany.
England players
celebrate team mate Steven Gerrard's (C) goal against Sweden during their
Group B World Cup 2006 soccer match in Cologne June 20, 2006.
[Reuters] | England, who lost striker Michael Owen to a knee injury after just two
minutes, took the lead with a stunning 34th minute volley by Joe Cole from over
30 metres.
Sweden levelled with a Marcus Allback header in the 51st minute and were
unlucky not to knock England off the top of Group B after creating a string of
chances.
Steven Gerrard put England back in front with a header from a Cole cross four
minutes from time, but Henrik Larsson brought the scores level again after a
long throw deceived the defence.
England were rattled by the sight of Owen leaving on a stretcher and
struggled to keep possession for the opening 20 minutes against a combative
Sweden side, who have not lost to them in 38 years.
Fredrik Ljungberg was a threatening presence while defender Teddy Lucic sent
in a superb angled drive from a corner that was charged down by Frank Lampard.
Wayne Rooney, in his first World Cup start after a substitutes' appearance in
last week's 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago, helped redress the balance with
some nice passes and a shot that ricocheted off Lucic.
WONDER GOAL
It was nothing compared to the subsequent candidate for one of the goals of
the tournament.
Cole controlled a headed clearance by Niclas Alexandersson with his chest and
struck a long-range shot that keeper Andreas Isaksson could only touch on to the
inside of his post as it flew in.
However, the sense of euphoria among England fans and the team's clean sheets
at these finals lasted only six minutes after the break.
Tobias Linderoth curled over a corner from the right and Allback's glancing
header beat keeper Paul Robinson and Ashley Cole on the line.
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