Malta stroll takes Sweden higher
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
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Sweden 4-0 Malta
Sweden moved within a point of the Group 2 summit as two-goal Mikael Ishak helped undo ten-man Malta.
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Sweden moved within a point of Group 2 leaders Slovenia –with a game in hand – after a 4-0 home victory over Malta in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying.
Hakan Ericson's side took the lead after just three minutes in Halmstad when Mervan Celik struck against the section's bottom team. Mikael Ishak doubled their lead in the 20th minute after latching on to Oscar Hiljemark’s pass and Malta's plight worsened just after the break with Owen Bugeja's dismissal for bringing down Mervan Celik as he burst through.
Astrit Ajdarević converted the spot-kick and the only surprise was it took until the 92nd minute for the Swedes to get their fourth goal, a close-range finish by the excellent Ishak.