Sweden grab victory thanks to VAR penalty
Sweden won an opening World Cup game for the first time since 1958 as they benefited from a penalty awarded thanks to video technology.
The Swedes were the better side but failed to take their chances. The decisive moment came in the 65th minute, when Kim Min-woo brought down Viktor Claesson in the box. Salvadoran referee Joel Aguilar initially waved the Swedes away, before being called to consult the video assistant referee system.
In the second Var-awarded penalty of the tournament, Sweden’s 33-year-old captain Andreas Granqvist swept the ball low and left of South Korea’s impressive goalkeeper, Cho Hyun-woo.
“The VAR took a while but we are very pleased they had it ... I was pretty sure,” Granqvist said of the wait. The result brought wild celebrations from hordes of yellow-clad Swedish fans, fearful their team would draw another blank after failing to score in their past three games.
South Korea began the game brighter, harrying for the first 15 minutes against a sluggish-looking Sweden. But the Scandinavians quickly found their poise, coping comfortably with Korean attacks despite the absence of defender Victor Lindelof through illness.
Sweden coach Janne Andersson said the penalty was “crystal-clear”, adding: “I felt the wait for VAR was unnecessary.”
Sweden’s best chances fell to Marcus Berg, who had one closerange side-foot shot spectacularly saved by Cho off his knee in the 21st minute.
“We played the match the way we intended, but I’m a little unhappy with the chances we didn’t put away,” Andersson said.
Both teams’ star players provided their creative drive, Son Heungmin trying to inspire South Korea forward from the left flank but again failing to have the same impact on the international stage that he does in the Premier League.
For Sweden, the pacy Emil Forsberg constantly fed the front men, and also curled a shot over from outside the box.
South Korea’s best chances fell to Koo Ja-cheol, who headed just wide in the second half, and Hwang Heechan, who saw his stoppage-time header also just miss during a desperate siege.
Shin Tae-yong, South Korea’s coach, had no complaints about the penalty and praised his team’s battle for aerial superiority.
“It was unfortunate we lost,” he said, adding that he was now focused on the next game against “formidable” Mexico, who stunned world champions Germany 1-0 in the other Group F opener.
Sweden go into their game against Germany with confidence. “If we win against Germany, we are through. The pressure is on them,” said the ebullient Granqvist.
Sweden Subs South Korea Subs Referee