Ibrahimovic hits hat-trick in Swedish romp
Reuters - Tuesday 07 June 2011, 20:26
STOCKHOLM - Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off
the bench to hit a hat-trick and fire rampant Sweden to a 5-0
demolition of Scandinavian neighbours Finland in their Euro 2012
Group E qualifier at the Rasunda stadium on Tuesday.
The striker missed the 4-1 victory in Moldova on Friday to
rest an ankle injury sustained playing for his club AC Milan,
but produced a finishing masterclass after joining the fray in
the 25th minute after an injury to Ola Toivonen.
He netted his first six minutes after coming on, swiveling
to fire home from close range to make it 2-0 after Kim Kallstrom
had fired Sweden ahead with a free-kick that eluded Finland
keeper Anssi Jaakkola at his far post.
Ibrahimovic's second came four minutes after his first,
Sebastian Larsson squaring him the ball for the simplest of
finishes, and he could have had a hat-trick by half-time had he
not fired a free-kick a fraction over in the 41st minute.
His third goal came early in the second half as he rose to
nod home a free-kick from deep on the right touchline.
Sweden took their foot of the gas a little in the second
half, but Ibrahimovic still managed to play in winger Emir
Bajrami, who chipped the fifth goal over the onrushing Jaakkola
with seven minutes left.
Sweden consolidated second place in the group with the
victory, moving to 15 points, three behind leaders the
Netherlands after six games.