Pato breaks duck to sink Sweden

Sweden 0-1 Brazil
A 72nd-minute goal from teenage debutant Pato consigned Sweden to a 1-0 defeat by Brazil in their friendly at the Arsenal Stadium in London.

Pato steals show
Just as in the FIFA World Cup final between the sides 50 years ago, the Swedes came off second best – and where a 17-year-old Pelé stole the show in 1958, here it was Pato, the 18-year-old AC Milan player scoring the only goal little over ten minutes after taking the field as a second-half substitute. Charging down Rami Shaaban's attempted clearance near the right-hand corner of the penalty box, he turned in an instant and lifted a first-time lob high over the stranded replacement goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net.

Midfield industry
Sweden coach Lars Lagerbäck had identified this game as good preparation for the Scandinavians' UEFA EURO 2008™ match against slick-passing Spain and he may have taken encouragement from a first period where, for the most part, the Swedes were able to contain Brazil. Kim Kallström – who drove an early effort just over – and Anders Svensson were particularly prominent with their industry in midfield.

Rosenberg miss
He may also be forgiven for concerns about his team's attacking threat, however, given they have scored just once in four outings so far in 2008. Without the injured Zlatan Ibrahimović, Markus Rosenberg led the line alongside Johan Elmander and the former spurned a golden opportunity to open the scoring midway through the first half. Mikael Nilsson's pass from inside the Sweden half caught the Brazil defence flat-footed and sent the Werder Bremen forward racing clear from the halfway line. With only Júlio César to beat, though, Rosenberg flashed his shot wide of the near post.

Isaksson saves
At the other end, Robinho and Daniel Alves combined to feed Diego who drove into the side-netting. The influential Diego then played in Julio Baptista but his attempt was blocked by Andreas Isaksson. The Sweden goalkeeper next turned away a shot by Richarlyson before Julio Baptista curled a free-kick wide. Sebastian Larsson, earning his second cap on the Sweden right, tested Júlio César with a wickedly whipped free-kick shortly after the restart but the Swedes spent most of the second period on the back foot. A flurry of substitutions brought the arrival of Pato, followed soon after by Brazil's winner, with Rosenberg's low drive into Júlio César's chest the closest Sweden came to a reply.