Two for Allbäck in Sweden victory

Sweden needed two second-half goals to see off Liechtenstein in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group F and end a mixed week on a high note.

Maximum points
The hosts, who sent Zlatan Ibrahimović, Olof Mellberg and Christian Wilhelmsson home on Monday for a breach of discipline, were struggling until Marcus Allbäck put them 2-1 up after 69 minutes. Markus Rosenberg added a late third, moments after Fredrik Ljungberg had missed a penalty, to move Sweden on to maximum points after Saturday's 1-0 win in Latvia.

Early goal
The Scandinavians did get off to a fine start, though, taking the lead with just over a minute gone. Johan Elmander crossed from the right and Allbäck connected well to fire a 20-metre shot past Liechtenstein keeper Peter Jehle. Allbäck almost made it 2-0 on the quarter-hour but his effort, following a left-wing free-kick from Elmander, was straight at Jehle who gathered well.

Physical prowess
Allbäck's physical prowess was causing the visitors problems and the FC København striker blazed over the bar after 20 minutes when he should have hit the target. Liechtenstein had their first opportunity after 25 minutes, Martin Stocklasa shooting from range straight at Rami Shaaban. It was a warning Sweden did not heed, as two minutes later the visitors scored a shock equaliser, Mario Frick steering a left-foot beyond Shaaban from just outside the box.

Stunned
Sweden were stunned and could only muster a wayward Allbäck header before the break. Jehle denied Elmander as Sweden upped the tempo after the interval, and it came as no surprise when Allbäck restored the hosts' advantage by converting Tobias Linderoth's centre. Allbäck then volleyed against the post and Elmander blasted over when well placed before Ljungberg directed an 87th-minute spot-kick wide. It mattered little, however, as Rosenberg nodded in another Linderoth cross with a minute to go to boost confidence before the 7 October visit of Spain.