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Football

Sweden overpower negative Hungary


story.sweden.afp.jpg
Ljungberg celebrates his goal as Sweden saw off Hungary

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Sweden outclassed a negative Hungary side 3-0 with goals from Fredrik Ljungberg, Henrik Larsson and Anders Svensson in their World Cup qualifier.

Sweden, who lost to Croatia in their last Group Eight match, controlled the game and came close to scoring two more goals in the first half either side of Ljungberg's 26th minute strike.

Marcus Allback set up the midfielder with a precise header inside the box and Ljungberg, who rarely scores for Sweden, made no mistake as he fired the ball past goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.

Five minutes into the second half the Hungarian defence, under pressure from Ljungberg, gave Kiraly a weak back pass that Larsson picked up.

The keeper saved Larsson's first shot but the striker pounced on the rebound and doubled their lead.

A powerful long-range shot by Svensson in the 67th minute wrapped up a 3-0 victory for the impressive home side, who travel to Iceland for their next qualifier.

Bulgaria fight back

Bulgaria scored twice in the last 12 minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw with Croatia as they recovered from Darijo Srna's double in Zagreb.

Bulgaria persevered in attack it paid off in the 78th minute when a defence-splitting pass gave Martin Petrov the chance to burst into the area and beat goalkeeper Tomislav Butina.

Petrov set up the equaliser four minutes from time with a perfect cross from the right that found the dangerous Dimitar Berbatov unmarked in the area and he scored with ease.

Croatia winger Srna had opened the scoring against the run of play with a trademark free kick after 15 minutes and got his second with a penalty after Marko Babic was brought down.

But Bulgaria continued to attack, forcing Croatia defender Mario Tokic to head clear in front of an empty goal on the stroke of haltime, and were rewarded with their two late goals.

Croatia top Group Eight with seven points from three games while Bulgaria have four points from two matches.


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