MATCH 14 REPORT : IBRAHIMOVIC PEGS BACK ITALY

Acrobatic equaliser
Antonio Cassano had opened the scoring in the first half of a game that Italy largely dominated, but Sweden staged a late rally in the closing stages and substitute Mattias Jonson forced Gianluigi Buffon into a fine reaction save after he had been picked out by Henrik Larsson's penetrating diagonal pass. The pressure eventually paid off when Ibrahimovic profited from a goalmouth scramble, acrobatically hooking a shot over the head of Vieri on the line and into the top corner with five minutes remaining.

Three changes
Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni had made three changes from the side that was held to a goalless draw by Denmark, with AC Milan pair Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo replacing Cristiano Zanetti and Mauro Camoranesi in midfield and Cassano stepping in for the suspended Francesco Totti.

Nilsson in
Sweden made just one alteration, as right-back Teddy Lucic – injured in the 5-0 win against Bulgaria – was replaced by Mikael Nilsson, with Christian Wilhelmsson slotting into the right side of a midfield diamond.

Vieri denied
Cassano, making his first start in a major tournament, was handed a free role behind Alessandro Del Piero and Vieri and immediately caused Sweden problems with his movement. In the third minute his first-time pass sent Vieri clear in the penalty area but after swivelling past Andreas Jakobsson the striker was denied by the onrushing Andreas Isaksson.

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