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Portugal national football team
European Under-21s Championship | Group Stage
Jun 24, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 

1-1

Paciencia (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Tibbling (89')

Live Commentary: Portugal Under-21s 1-1 Sweden Under-21s - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text commentary of the European Under-21 Championship match between Portugal and Sweden.
2

Sweden came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Portugal in their European Under-21 Championship match this evening.

Goncalo Paciencia broke the deadlock with a low strike into the bottom corner to give the Portuguese the lead.

However, Simon Tibbling found the net with a minute of the game left to play, as Sweden booked their place alongside Portugal in the semi-finals.

Find out how the action unfolded below.


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Good evening everyone! A place in the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championship is up for grabs, with all four teams in Group B still able to make it though. We'll have all the action covered for you, but our focus here will be on events taking place at the Stadion Miroslava Valenty, as Portugal take on Sweden.

As things stand, Portugal are currently top of Group B and will make it into the last four with a draw this evening. They have four points, while just behind them are England and Sweden on three. The Swedes will be assured of a semi-final spot with a win, but if they finish level on points with England, then they will be going home.

It could all get rather complicated if Italy end up beating England, so I'll be sure to fill you in with the latest developments from that match throughout the evening. Right, the team news is in, so let's have a look at the starting lineups from both nations.



PORTUGAL XI: Sa, Esgaio, Guerreiro, Paulo Oliveira, Ilori, William, Sergio Oliveira, Joao Mario, Bernardo Silva, Cavaleiro, Ricardo

SWEDEN XI: Carlgren, Lindelof, Milosevic, Augustinsson, Baffo, Lewicki, Hiljemark, Khalili, Hrgota, Guidetti, Kiese Thelin

So, that's how the teams will be starting this evening. Portugal have made a couple of changes from the side that played out a draw against Italy last time out, as Ivan Cavaleiro and Ricardo are brought back in place of Carlos Mane and Rafa Silva.

Meanwhile, Alexander Milosevic, who was sent off in the opening match against Italy, is back from a ban to replace Filip Helander. They have also kept faith with the forward duo of John Guidetti and Isaac Kiese Thelin, who were both on target against the Azzurri.

Let's take a quick look at how each team have fared so far in the tournament. Portugal kicked off their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over England, thanks to Joao Mario's second-half goal. They then consolidated their position on top of the group with a goalless draw against Italy, that has given them a great chance of reaching the knockout stages.

It was also a very good start for Sweden, as they came from behind to beat Italy 2-1, despite playing for over an hour with 10 men. They looked on their way to another good result in their second group match against England, until Jesse Lingard struck late on to condemn them to a 1-0 defeat.

The top two teams from the group will take on either Denmark or Germany in the semi-finals. Denmark will face the runners up, while the Germans will lie in wait for the group winners. Another advantage of getting through to the last four is qualification for the Olympic Games, but if England manage to advance, then there will be a playoff between the two third-placed teams next Monday.

KICKOFF! We've just heard the national anthems of the two nations and we are now underway at the Stadion Miroslava Valenty!

Portugal have made a commanding start to the match and they are quickly on the front foot and looking for an early goal. They even manage to force a corner and cause some panic inside their opponents' box, but the Swedish defence are able to to clear.

Some of the passing already from the Portuguese has been first class and they look so confident on the ball. There's no doubting their ability in possession, but with just one goal scored so far in this tournament, they are just lacking a clinical touch in the final third.

CHANCE! What a massive chance this is for Portugal to take the lead. Following another fine move, Carvalho is slipped through on goal by Cavaleiro and he looks to take the ball pass the keeper. However, it just gets stuck under his feet slightly and Carlgren is able to stick out a hand and make a crucial save.

That was such a great opportunity for the Portuguese to take the lead and you just wonder if they will regret it. The build up was fantastic once again, but the finish just deserted Carvalho at the vital moment.

SHOT! It's still all Portugal and they work another decent opening. This time Oliveira is found just outside the box and he hammers an effort goalwards, but his powerful strike ends up heading narrowly over the bar.

SHOT! Yet again the Portuguese come up with a shot on goal. Ricardo manages to wriggle past a couple of tackles and into some space on the edge of the box, before firing in a strike. It heads a few inches over the bar once more, but Sweden can't afford to keep allowing their opponents so much time and space in their half of the pitch.

YELLOW CARD! Lewicki picks up the first booking of the match for Sweden, after dragging down Ricardo from behind.

Sweden are struggling to get outside of their own half and the pressure they are coming under is mounting. They need to gain some sort of foothold in the match, as it seems like only a matter of time until Portugal make the most of their chances.

There have been a few more encouraging signs from Sweden in the past couple of minutes and they are getting forward a lot more. They are almost in behind too, as Guidetti latches onto a threaded pass, before the referee belatedly raises his flag for offside.

UPDATE! Here's a massive goal to tell you about in this evening's other Group B match. Italy have taken the lead against England, with Andrea Belotti getting on the scoresheet. That goal means that the Azzurri have moved above England, but they will still be going out due to their head to head record against Sweden.

UPDATE! It's got even worse for England, as Marco Benassi has scored for Italy to give them a 2-0 lead. Once again that doesn't change anything at the moment, as Portugal will still go through on top of the group with Sweden in second place.

CHANCE! This is about as close as Sweden have come to scoring all evening. A free kick from the left is whipped into the box and Lindelof rises highest to meet it, but he can only plant his header over the bar from just a few yards out.

SUBSTITUTION: Portugal have been forced into making an early change, with Figueiredo coming on for Ilori.

Half-chance for the Portuguese, as Oliveira is picked out from a corner, before heading narrowly over the top. You just wonder if we will see any goals before the break, as both teams are heading through to the semi-finals with Italy winning.

The pace has slightly dropped in the past few minutes, with each team taking turns in possession. Portugal are still looking better on the ball, but Sweden have hugely improved following a shaky start to the evening.

SHOT! Cavaleiro fancies his chances when he comes inside from the left and works some room around 20 yards out from goal. He then looks to curl an effort into the top-right corner, but he didn't get enough power on the shot and Carlgren is there to make a simple save.

SHOT! Down the other end of the pitch the Swedes have a rare opening, when the Portuguese defence make a mess of clearing a cross. The ball then ends up dropping kindly to Hiljemark just outside the box, but he snatches at his attempt and blazes it well wide of the target.

At the moment it looks like the teams will be heading into the break on level terms, as there is not much to suggest a breakthrough. It has been easy on the eye and very watchable, but the quality of finishing in the final third from both teams has been poor.

SHOT! Sa is forced to make his first save of the evening from Khalili's low drive. The Swedish midfielder had created some space after cutting in from the left, before looking for the bottom corner, but there was never enough on the shot to seriously trouble the keeper.

There is going to be one minute of stoppage time added on to the end of this first half.

HALF-TIME: Portugal 0-0 Sweden

The first half comes to an end and it's still goalless between Portugal and Sweden. There haven't been too many chances for either team to break the deadlock, but as things stand, they are both heading through to the semi-finals.

 Raphael Guerreiro (R) of Portugal battles for the ball with Branimir Hrgota (L) of Sweden during UEFA U21 European Championship Group B match between Portugal and Sweden at Mestsky Fotbalovy Stadium on June 24, 2015© Getty Images


It was a very evenly matched first half and both teams actually had the same amount of time in possession. It was the Portuguese who looked more threatening though and they worked six shots on goal, compared to just three from the Swedes.

At the moment, it looks like only a major turnaround from England in their game against Italy will change the group table. Portugal are currently heading for a semi-final clash against Germany, while Denmark lie in wait for Sweden, but there's still plenty of football left to be played this evening.

Portugal take the kick off for the second half and get the match back underway!

SHOT! The Portuguese have started the half strongly and they are putting the Swedish defence under heavy pressure. They also work the first attempt on goal since the break, but Oliveira's powerful shot from range flies well over the bar.

CHANCE! If Sweden fail to progress this evening then they might just look back on this moment. Thelin is found at the back post by Guidetti's fine delivery, but he sees his downward header bounce over the bar, when he probably should have scored.

SUBSTITUTION: First change of the night for Sweden, as Tibbling comes on for Hrgota.

SHOT! Bernardo Silva has had a fine tournament for Portugal and he shows his class by evading a number of challenges and dancing into the box. He is at a wide angle, but he still goes for goal, although his low effort crashes into the side netting.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a second change for Portugal, with Cavaleiro heading off to be replaced by Paciencia.

CHANCE! Sweden have got into some great areas since the break and they cause real panic when Thelin heads a cross back into the middle. Khalili manages to latch onto it and he sends a half-volley goalwards, but it is hit straight at Sa, who makes a comfortable save.

PENALTY APPEAL! Portugal feel that they may have a case for a spot kick when Lindelof waltzes past Ricardo inside the box, before going down under a rash challenge from the defender. The referee was just a few yards away and waved play on, while the replays show that Ricardo may have been looking for contact.

YELLOW CARD! Oliveira goes into the referee's notebook for dragging back Khalili, as the Swedish midfielder looked to charge down the left wing.

At the moment, Portugal are on top and they are looking assured on the ball. However, it has been the same story all night for them, with some fantastic link up play by their midfielders, before their attacking moves break down further up the pitch.

We're into the last 20 minutes and a goal is still looking unlikely this evening. The players must be aware that Italy are beating England and it does seem to have taken the sting out of the match, with the intensity really lacking.

UPDATE! There's been another goal in the other match and Italy have opened up a 3-0 lead against England. Benassi has scored his second of the evening, but it still isn't enough for the Azzurri to progress.

SUBSTITUTION: Portugal make their final change of the evening, with Medeiros replacing Ricardo.

CHANCE! Good chance for Portugal, as Paciencia robs Baffo of possession inside his own box. He then plays it back to Medeiros, who bends in a strike looking for the far corner, but Carlgren gets down well to save. One goal for either side would change everything, as the winner would go through to the last four along with Italy.

SUBSTITUTION: Sweden are making a change here, with Helander coming on at the back in place of Baffo.

GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Sweden (Goncalo Paciencia)

With only eight minutes left to play Portugal have taken the lead and it means that Sweden are heading out. Paciencia strikes the killer blow, as he is found by Medeiros on the edge of the box, before drilling a low strike into the corner and beyond the reach of Carlgren.

SUBSTITUTION: Sweden respond to falling behind by throwing on Quaison in place of Khalili.

Sweden must be devastated at conceding that goal, with a place in the semi-finals within touching distance. They had dropped off the pace massively and assumed that they were already going through and it looks as if they will be paying the price.

SAVE! Huge, huge chance for Sweden to level the scores. Guidetti is slipped into the box by Thelin and he gets the ball onto his left foot before curling in a low strike that is well kept out by Sa. Milosevic tried to slot in the rebound, but Esgaio was there to cover with a vital clearance.

GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Sweden (Simon Tibbling)

What a remarkable ending we have had to this match! Sweden are back on level terms, as a long ball into the box drops kindly for Tibbling, who shows great composure to get it out of his feet, before placing a low strike past the keeper, via the aid of a slight deflection. It means that Sweden are once again heading through in place of the Italians.

There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time.

UPDATE! Nathan Redmond has scored to pull a goal back for England, but it still makes no difference as to who will go through from the group.

FULL-TIME: Portugal 1-1 Sweden

The referee blows the final whistle and it has finished all square between Portugal and Sweden. It means that both teams are through to the semi-finals, with Italy and England heading home. There was real drama at the end, when for long periods it looked like we wouldn't see a goal.

That's all we've got time for this evening, but we'll have live coverage of the two semi-final ties at the weekend. We've also got action from the Copa America coming up later tonight, with Chile taking on Uruguay. Until next time, goodbye!

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Jesse Lingard of England celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 with Nathan Redmond during the UEFA Under21 European Championship 2015 match between Sweden and England at Andruv Stadium on June 21, 2015
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