Euro 2016 Play-off:-: Sweden 2 vs 1 Denmark| Match Report

A goal by Nicolai Jorgensen pulled Denmark into their
play-off with Sweden after Emil Forsberg and Zlatan
Ibrahimovic struck for the hosts.

An influential performance from Emil Forsberg helped Sweden to
claim a slender 2-1 advantage over rivals Denmark in the first
leg of their Euro 2016 play-off at the Friends Arena on Saturday.

The hosts put an uncertain start behind them in Solna to pin
Denmark back during an absorbing first half, in which Paris
Saint-Germain superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the focal point
for much of their good work.

But it was the comparatively unheralded Forsberg – who plies
his trade with RB Leipzig in Germany's 2.Bundesliga – who
found the breakthrough with a crisp finish on the stroke of half-
time.

Ibrahimovic would add his first goal against Sweden's near
neighbours, in addition to eight from as many appearances
during the group stage, after 50 minutes when Forsberg won a
penalty.

Erik Hamren's team briefly threatened to dish out a thrashing
but Denmark rallied and substitute Nicolai Jorgensen snatched
a potentially crucial away goal.

The outside of the Friends Arena was illuminated in the colours
of the French flag as a mark of respect to the victims of Friday's
terror attacks in Paris.

Following a pre-match minute's silence, both teams looked to
make positive starts and Demark duo William Kvist and Thomas
Kahlenberg had attempts blocked from inside the area.

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel made an impressive
reaction save to thwart Marcus Berg from close range on the
end of Oscar Lewicki's low cross – an attack that sparked the
hosts into action.

Panathinaikos striker Berg headed over from a Kim Kallstrom
corner, while Nicklas Bendtner failed to punish an unconvincing
punch from Andreas Isaksson at the other end.

The hosts' centre-back Mikael Antonsson limped out of the
action due to an apparent hip problem after 30 minutes to be
replaced by Erik Johansson.

Berg dragged wide on the angle from eight yards, having opted
against a return pass to Ibrahimovic – much to the distain of
Sweden's talisman, who fizzed a shot narrowly past the upright
before Hamren's men stylishly took a 45th-minute lead.

Denmark were left to rue Bendtner squandering a close-range
chance as Durmaz's wonderful back-heel released Mikael Lustig
down the right flank and his cutback was steered clinically
home by Forsberg.

Ibrahimovic almost made it two with the final act of the half,
Schmeichel remarkably tipping a rasping free-kick wide after
Daniel Agger was booked for crudely hacking down the PSG star
on the edge of the area.

The interval did not provide sufficient time for Denmark's heads
to clear and, after Ibrahimovic headed over, Kahlenberg clumsily
fouled Forsberg in the box.

Another powerful Ibrahimovic hit was enough to beat
Schmeichel's dive from 12 yards.

Denmark's veteran coach Morten Olsen sought to check a now
rampant Sweden by introducing Jorgensen and Pierre-Emile
Hojbjerg in place of Kahlenberg and the ineffective Viktor
Fischer.

Ibrahimovic had a goal correctly ruled out for offside before
Denmark belatedly stirred.

A deflected cross from Lars Jacobsen looped toward goal,
forcing Isaksson to tip behind, and from Christian Eriksen's
resulting corner Bendtner planted a header wide.

Sweden invited further pressure and they paid the price 10
minutes from time, with set-piece marking again proving to be a
weakness as Jorgensen turned in at the far post.

John Guidetti replaced Ibrahimovic for the closing stages and an
increasingly ragged Sweden unconvincingly held on to their lead
ahead of the second leg in Copenhagen on Tuesday.