The Euro 2004 Football Championships.
Five-star Sweden bury Bulgaria
by Peter ORourke - Last Updated 14 Jun 2004
Henrik Larsson marked his return to competitive international football with two goals as Sweden
swept Bulgaria aside 5-0 at the Estadio Alvalade in their Group C opener in Lisbon.
Freddie Ljungberg gave Sweden the lead in the first 45 minutes before second half goals from Larsson (2), Zlatan Ibrahimovic and substitute Marcus Allback wrapped up victory for the Scandinavians, although the scoreline was a little harsh on Bulgaria.
The scoreline propels Sweden to the top of Group C and leaves them in a strong position to qualify for the quarter finals.
Sweden started brightly with Ibrahimovic having a shot blocked for a corner and Larsson just failing to get on the end of Mikael Nilsson's dangerous cross inside the box.
Bulgaria had appeals for a penalty waved away by Mike Riley on seven minutes when Marian Hristov went down under a challenge from Teddy Lucic, but the English referee adjudged the defender had done nothing wrong.
The Eastern European side were coming more and more into the contest and on 16 minutes created the best chance of the half, with Martin Petrov bursting clear down the left and crossing for Zoran Jankovic to fire his volley just wide of goal.
Riley caused controversy two minutes later when he awarded an indirect free kick to Sweden inside the box for Ivailo Petkov's high foot on Ibrahimovic, but Bulgaria captain Stilian Petrov was quickly out to block Erik Edman's shot.
Sweden went close three minutes later when Nilsson got free down the right and crossed for Larsson, at full stretch, to fire his shot just over the crossbar.
Bulgaria almost broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when Dimitar Berbatov rose highest to meet Vladimir Ivanov's cross with a looping header and Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson needed his fingertips to keep out the Bayer Leverkusen striker's effort.
Sweden went in front on 32 minutes with Arsenal ace Ljungberg scoring his fourth goal for his country.
Ibrahimovic was the creator of the goal, springing Bulgaria's offside trap before racing into the box and unselfishly squaring the ball for Ljungberg to tap home into an empty net.
Bulgaria tried to hit back straightaway and captain Stilian Petrov tried his luck from fully 30 yards with a volley which flew just wide.
Sweden suffered a blow six minutes before the break when the out-of-sorts Lucic was forced off with Christian Wilhelmsson replacing him.
The impressive Ibrahimovic had a half chance to double the lead on 42 minutes when Ljungberg picked him out at the back post, but under pressure he could not direct his header on target.
Bulgaria came out for the second half in determined fashion and should have drawn level on 47 minutes when Martin Petrov crossed for Jankovic, but the big striker somehow managed to nod his header from close range wide of the target.
A minute later Ljungberg was denied his second goal of the game when Ibrahimovic sent him clear with a brilliant backheel, but Zdravko Zdravkov stood up well to keep out his shot with his legs.
Bulgaria came within inches of drawing level on 56 minutes when they caught Sweden napping with a quickly taken free kick which allowed Martin Petrov a sight of goal and he was unlucky to see his shot drift the wrong side of the post.
Sweden made Bulgaria pay for the miss 60 seconds later when they swept upfield and Edman fired over an inch-perfect cross for the diving Larsson to brilliantly head home.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of Bulgaria and Sweden put the game beyond them with Larsson's second within a space of a minute.
Anders Svensson broke free down the right and crossed to the far post for Larsson to coolly finish from an acute angle and send the Swedish fans into raptures.
Things should have got better for Sweden on the hour when Svensson picked out Ibrahimovic unmarked in the box from a free kick on the edge of the box, but with just the keeper to beat the Ajax ace contrived to head wide from six yards.
Bulgaria could not contain Ibrahimovic and the skilful striker got through on goal on 72 minutes only for his final touch to let him down which allowed Zdravkov to spread himself and keep out his shot.
Ibrahimovic did get his name on the scoresheet on 78 minutes when he converted from the penalty spot after Ljungberg was felled inside the area by Vladimir Ivanov.
Sweden piled the misery on Bulgaria with Allback running onto Larsson's pass in stoppage time and firing emphatically home to cap a memorable night for Sweden.
Sweden play Italy in Oporto in Friday and they will go into the game on a high while Bulgaria will have to raise themselves against Denmark in Braga.
http://www.euro2004.com/
http://www.football365.com/
http://www.soccernet.com/