On further review, Sweden gets a shot
Sweden got the break it needed from the video review system, and team captain Andreas Granqvist didn’t waste the chance.
Granqvist slid his penalty kick into the bottom right corner of the net in the 65th minute to give Sweden a 1-0 victory Monday over South Korea in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, at the World Cup.
“I was calm. I waited for the goalie, and then I put it in the corner,” said Granqvist, a central defender. “We got the penalty, we scored, and then it was just a fight to the end.”
The Swedes, playing in their first World Cup since 2006, were awarded the penalty after Salvadoran referee Joel Aguilar consulted a video screen on the sideline. Aguilar had originally waved play on after South Korea substitute Kim Min-woo slid into a tackle and collided with Viktor Claesson. But he took another look and decided Kim had tripped Claesson as he tried to clear the ball.
“There was no doubt it was a penalty and should have been called right away,” Sweden coach Janne Andersson said.
It was the third penalty to be awarded because of a video review in the first 12 games at this year’s World Cup. France and Peru also benefited from the technology, though the Peruvians missed their penalty kick.
The video review system, making its World Cup debut in Russia, appears to be working so far.
“We do agree that it was a good call,” South Korea coach Shin Tae-yong said.
Sweden is now tied for first place in Group F with Mexico, which beat Germany 1-0. The Swedes will face the Germans on Saturday, while South Korea plays Mexico on the same day.
Although Sweden used video review to win, it was the better team and showed most of the attacking intent. The Swedes just couldn’t beat goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo until the penalty.
Jo saved a close-range shot from Marcus Berg midway through the first half, using his right leg to make the block and then jumping back up to punch the ball away with both hands. He also stopped a powerful, dipping header from Ola Toivonen in the second half.
South Korea, which has won only two World Cup matches since its incredible run to the semifinals in 2002, had a chance to level in injury time, but Hwang put a header wide from in front of goal.
Belgium 3, Panama 0: Romelu Lukaku scored two goals in a six-minute span and Dries Mertens put in another in a victory over Panama in Sochi.
Saddled with massive expectations and a lineup of talent the envy of others in the tournament, Belgium finally showed flashes of being the dominant team worthy of title consideration.
It took a wonderful strike from Mertens to finally relieve some of the pressure. His perfectly struck volley from about 18 yards came in the 47th minute after Panama was unable to clear a free kick.
Lukaku made it 2-0 in the 69th off a pass by Kevin De Bruyne, and scored his second on a breakaway chip over Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.
Panama, which was making its World Cup debut, was unable to reward its thousands of loud, passionate fans with a goal.