Sweden hit six past San Marino
Sweden got its second victory in two matches in Group E of the European championship qualifiers on Tuesday, handing San Marino a resounding 6–0 defeat.
Despite playing the majority of the game with ten men, Erik Hamren's Swedish side never looked threatened against an inferior Sammarinese team.
Ibrahimovic hand Sweden early lead
Sweden's captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring in the eighth minute, when the towering striker received a long ball from Kim Kallstrom in front of San Marino's defensive line, steadied himself and lifted the ball comfortably over keeper Aldo Simoncini.
The goalscoring continued in the 11th minute as Sebastian Larsson ran onto Mikael Lustig's through ball in the right channel. Larsson's low cross was diverted by Davide Simoncini into his own net, and the midfielder received praise for his vision from Ibrahimovic.
Sweden continued to pressure San Marino after the second goal, as two delightful backheeled passes by Ola Toivonen and Pontus Wernbloom left Ibrahimovic with an open shooting opportunity in the area, but the striker's left-footed finish was tamely directed straight at Simoncini.
After another long ball forward, this time from defender Daniel Majstorovic, arrived in the 27th minute. Wernbloom did enough to trouble Simoncini, who had come out to collect the ball, and the unfortunate keeper steered the ball into his own net.
As Sweden continued to dominate the first half, defender Olof Mellberg got involved in an incident he will come to regret in the 35th minute. The Olympiacos player made a late lunge towards Simone Bacciocchi with his studs up, leaving referee David Mckeon little choice but to show the red card.
Granqvist opens second half scoring
Andreas Granqvist came on as a substitute for Toivonen to replace Mellberg in the second half, and it took him only five minutes to make an impact.
Larsson's free kick from the left channel dipped by the far post, and the FC Groningen defender rose high to head home Sweden's fourth goal of the match.
On 62 minutes, Larsson lined up for a trademark free kick aimed at the near corner, but the Birmingham midfielder's effort was always going wide.
Ibrahimovic got his second of the night when he collected a pass in the 78th minute, turned towards goal and advanced towards the penalty box. Once the opening came, the striker hit a well-placed shot just inside the near post.
From the substitutes bench, Ibrahimovic watched his replacement Marcus Berg head Behrang Safari's volleyed cross into the net to complete a resounding 6–0 scoreline.
Sweden face the Netherlands in Amsterdam next, a tough test that will not be any easier with Mellberg absent from the centre of defence.
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