Sweden Beats Ukraine 3-1, Secures World Cup Play-off Spot

Gyokeres hat-trick sends Sweden to World Cup play-off final

Sweden beat Ukraine 3-1 in a World Cup play-off semi-final, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring a hat-trick. The win puts Sweden one victory away from qualifying for the World Cup.

The match was all but wrapped up after 73 minutes, as the inspired Gyokeres broke free...

Sweden is one win away from the World Cup! They beat Ukraine 3-1 in Spain, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring a hat-trick. This is Graham Potter's first win as Sweden's head coach.

Sweden started strong, taking the lead in just 6 minutes.

A smart pass across the face of goal from Benjamin Nygren found Viktor Gyokeres in a perfect position inside the six-yard box, and the Arsenal striker made no mistake to net his 16th goal for his country - his first since November 2024 - giving Blagult a dream start.

Potter's side came within inches of doubling their advantage shortly after the midway point of the first half, as Gabriel Gudmundsson’s effort glanced off the post following a superb, surging run through the middle.

Ukraine had 73% possession in the first half but couldn't trouble Sweden's defense, failing to register a single shot on target.

The second half was a different story - Ukraine's Trubin made a great save to deny Sweden, and then Gudmundsson's shot flew narrowly wide.

Straight down the other end, Serhiy Rebrov’s team finally recorded their first attempt on goal as Kristoffer Nordfeldt prevented Oleksandr Zubkov from finding an equaliser. With the contest increasingly stretched, a moment of class propelled the Blagult into a commanding position.

A long kick from Nordfeldt was latched onto by Gyokeres deep into Ukraine’s half, and the forward’s majestic finish into the bottom corner put Sweden on the brink of reaching the play-off final.

The match was all but wrapped up after 73 minutes, as the inspired Gyokeres broke free of the last defender before being brought down by Trubin inside the box.

The Premier League star took the spot-kick himself and, despite the goalkeeper going the right way, secured his hat-trick to put the Swedes out of sight. 

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Ukraine grabbed a late consolation in the 90th minute, with Matviy Ponomarenko heading home on his senior debut.

Sweden beat Ukraine 3-1, ending a six-game winless streak. They face Poland on Tuesday for a World Cup spot, while Ukraine play Albania in a friendly.