Camara golden goal sinks the Swedes

Sweden 1 Senegal 2

Sweden 1 Senegal 2

(Senegal win on golden goal rule)

A golden goal from Henri Camara gave giantkillers Senegal a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sweden today to fire the Africans into the World Cup quarter-finals.

Camara bagged his second goal of the match in the 104th minute, dancing past Swedish skipper Johan Mjallby and drilling a low shot off the post past Magnus Hedman at the Oita Big Eye Stadium.

READ MORE

The win makes debutants Senegal the first African side to reach the World Cup last eight since Cameroon in 1990.

Camara's winner came after both sides finished an even match locked at 1-1, Henrik Larsson putting the Swedes ahead on 11 minutes before Camara levelled just before half-time.

Both sides created scoring opportunities in extra-time, Sweden's Anders Svensson coming closest with a shot from eight yards which crashed off a post.

At the other end Liverpool-bound African footballer of the year El-Hadji Diouf squandered a gilt-edged opening when he burst into the penalty area only to hook a low shot well wide.

Earlier Senegal had begun the match poorly, Sweden dominating the early play and taking a deserved lead through Larsson's header.

The Swedes had gone close moments earlier, midfielder Tobias Linderoth unleashing a meaty 25-yarder that Senegal keeper Tony Sylva gathered.

Senegal thought they had equalised on 25 minutes, when Diouf's shot fell to Pape Bouba Diop, who tapped in from close range. The effort was disallowed however in the tightest of offside decisions.

Sweden had legitimate claims for a penalty waved away by Paraguayan referee Ubaldo Aquino towards the end of the half, Senegal lucky to escape after Omar Daf bundled over Marcus Allback.

Eight minutes from time Senegal levelled with a marvellous goal from Camara, controlling on his chest, jinking to the right past Sweden skipper Johan Mjallby and drilling in a low shot past Hedman.

Sweden had a chance to seal it in the final 10 minutes when substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic beat Ferdinand Coly down the right flank and cut inside a sliding tackle from Aliou Cisse.

But instead of crossing to an unmarked Larsson at the back post, Ibrahimovic went for the glory and saw his shot blocked by Sylva.

Ibrahimovic again missed an effort in the dying minutes of the half when he failed to react as a cross was whipped in from the left hand side, sending the match into extra-time.

AFP