Portugal travelled to Sweden tonight for the second leg of their World Cup qualifier with a one-goal advantage to their name, thanks to a late header from Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon last Friday.
Ronaldo got on the scoresheet once again to break the deadlock in Solna on 51 minutes, but Sweden rallied late on as Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in quick succession to put the tie back in the balance.
With the pressure on Ronaldo stepped forward to prove the difference between the two teams, breaking Swedish hearts with two late goals to complete a clinical hat-trick and book Portugal's ticket to Brazil next summer.
Look back at an inspired display from Ronaldo with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening international football fans. Thanks for joining Sports Mole on what promises to a tense night for those scrambling for the final few places in next summer's World Cup finals, with our attention here focusing on the finely-poised tie between Sweden and Portugal.
It's just about advantage Portugal heading into tonight's decider in Solna, thanks to the intervention of Cristiano Ronaldo late on in last Friday's first leg. The Real Madrid man finally broke the deadlock eight minutes from time to give his side a lead to defend away from home, but Sweden only need a single goal to draw level. With only one ticket to Brazil available there promises to be high drama at the Friends Arena this evening!
Sweden desperately need to get Zlatan Ibrahimovic more involved tonight, after the towering talisman was left largely isolated and frustrated in Lisbon last Friday. The Paris-Saint Germain predator failed to touch the ball in the opposition penalty area during the first leg, surely a statistic that shows that Erik Hamren's side must show more attacking intent at some stage tonight.
Portugal may hold a narrow lead in the tie but must surely search for an away goal tonight, a strike which would surely go a long way towards keeping their streak of making every major tournament since 1998 alive. Paulo Bento's side are normally compact and heavily reliant on Ronaldo for a killer touch in the final third, as the first leg demonstrated perfectly.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have just received word on the starting XIs from Solna and there is just one change from either side, with Hugo Almeida picked ahead of Helder Postiga to lead the line for Portugal. A full look at both lineups will follow in just a few moments.
SWEDEN: Isaksson; Lustig, Nilsson, Antonsson, Olsson; Larsson, Elm, Kallstrom, Kacaniklic; Elmander, Ibrahimovic
PORTUGAL: Rui Patricio; Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Coentrao; Veloso, Meireles, Moutinho; Nani, C Ronaldo, Almeida
Almeida's inclusion is certainly a surprise, but makes sense at it provides Portugal with a more physical focal point in attack. Ronaldo and Nani will once again play in advanced wide roles with freedom to roam, with Joao Moutinho asked to pull the strings in midfield.
Sweden meanwhile are unchanged from the side which lost in Lisbon last Friday, with Johan Elmander playing just off Ibrahimovic. Hamren definitely needs better service from wide areas tonight, with the responsibility of providing just that falling to Premier League duo Sebastian Larsson and Alex Kacaniklic.
Sweden's fairly flat 4-4-1-1 formation may look uninspiring on paper, bit with Ibrahimovic leading the line they definitely have enough quality to overturn a one-goal deficit. Hamren's side are in a difficult position but can at least go into tonight's match aware that only victory will give them a chance.
Much has been made following the first leg over a row between the two teams involving play-acting, with Sweden in particular warning Howard Webb not to fall foul of "tricks" from Ronaldo and his Portugual teammates. Webb has refused to drawn on the issue, but it is one worth bearing in mind as the tie is so finely poised a single decision could change the course of the match.
Webb's role aside the spotlight has unsurprisingly fallen on the shootout between Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo once again. It was definitely round one to the Real Madrid marksman last Friday, but Ibrahimovic has remained bullish and extremely confident in having the last laugh tonight. No surprises there!
While Ibrahimovic will stay central and lead the line for Sweden, but Ronaldo's position is much for difficult to pin down for the home defence. Last Friday he started in a wide-left role but consistently drifted into dangerous areas, a tactic which eventually resulted in the only goal eight minutes from time. Mikael Lustig did perform well against him on the whole last week though, once again given the task of keeping him under wraps this evening.
PREDICTION! As a smiling Zlatan prepares to lead Sweden out there is just time to register a guess at who will book their place in Brazil next summer. I think both sides will find the target tonight in a more open and entertaining clash than last week's first leg, but a Ronaldo away goal will kill the tie of if and when it comes. I'll go for 2-1 Sweden, with Portugal to squeeze through on away goals.
A sell-out crowd at the Friends Arena has created quite an atmosphere for the two national anthems, with Portugal's effort greeted by a chorus of jeers. This promises to be a special occasion in a winner-take-all scenario!
We are just about ready to resume hostilities in Solna. Can Sweden salvage their dreams of World Cup qualification, or will Ronaldo lead Portugal to a fourth successive finals?
Portugal take the kickoff at the Friend Arena and quickly search for Ronaldo on a long diagonal, but he is penalised for offside soon after controlling. The visitors soon try the same tactic, but Lustig reads the danger and comes across to clear.
Sweden win an early corner kick down the right after a neat exchange between Olsson and Elmander. Larrson has a packed penalty area to pick out but chooses to go short, with his pass to Kallstrom short and wasting the chance to put early pressure on the visitors.
A promising raid down the right for Sweden as Ibrahomvic drops deep to combine with Kacaniklic, but just puts too much behind a return pass. Sweden are pressing high up the field and forcing early mistakes.
Sweden waste another chance to play the ball into the penalty area as Kallstrom loops a poor free kick over multiple options with a wayward diagonal effort. With their power and physical presence the hosts must make more of set-piece opportunities to progress.
SAVE! The first effort on target tonight comes from a Portugal free kick, after Kacaniklic was penalised for a foul on Meireles. Moutinho takes the set piece and picks out Alves with a curling cross, who in turn forces Isaksson to parry at full stretch with an effort aimed down into the ground.
Sweden definitely carry a threat down the right as Olsson once again roams forward, driving with pace and purpose before skewing a low strike well past the far post. The visitors need forward options up alongside Ibrahimovic in those situations.
Nani sprays wide from range just moments after sending a menacing cross towards the six-yard box, which was headed clear with authority by Lustig.
Ronaldo is furious with his teammates but quite why I have no idea. The forward finds space down the left before looking up and hammering a speculative drive out of play, following that up by castigating his strike partners for failing to provide support. Sweden will surely not get so lucky if Ronaldo finds room in the final third again tonight.
Meireles and Moutinho exchange a neat passage of play in central midfield, before sending a long diagonal over the top for Almeida to chase. He decides to run after a lost cause and forces Nilsson to hammer away under pressure, with Sweden able to retain possession after winning the following 50/50 in midfield.
Elm is robbed by Moutinho in midfield as a promising Swedish break ends, created by Ibrahimovic dropping deep to pick up a long pass. The striker still lacks service and support though, but the Friends Arena remains in full voice.
Nilsson puts a crucial last-ditch interception in to stop Ronaldo breaking clear in the penalty area, after Larsson had invited the visitors to break by conceding possession cheaply on the halfway line. Just a sign there that Portugal carry a potent threat on the counter.
Coentrao is penalised for a late lunge on Lustig but Howard Webb decides that a free kick is punishment enough, with Ronaldo told to get up soon after throwing himself to the ground under pressure from Elm. Portugal then win a corner kick and manage to find Ronaldo in the six-yard box with a curling cross, but under pressure he heads over the top.
SAVE! Ronaldo controls a long diagonal quickly and quickly drives into space just outside the penalty area. He eventually lets fly from 20 yards but just drags a low effort slightly, allowing Isaksson to claim comfortably.
MISS! Another chance goes begging for Ronaldo as Sweden live dangerously heading towards the break. Portugal skimmed a teasing low cross into the penalty area which Ronaldo met first time, but under pressure from Lustig and off balance he could only fire well over the top from eight yards. Ronaldo quickly thumps the turf in frustration, with a player of his immense talent capable of doing far better.
CHANCE! Sweden are absolutely furious as the visitors go within inches of breaking the deadlock while Elmander lays on the ground injured. He stays down after a challenge from Pepe but Portugal play on after clearing a cross, with Ronaldo standing up a teasing cross to Almeida at the far post. At full stretch the big striker heads just wide of the bottom corner, with the hosts breathing a huge sigh of relief.
At last Sweden test Patricio in the Portugal after clever link-up play from Ibrahimovic. His chest down into space found Kallstrom advancing onto the ball and he let fly with a crisp low drive from range, stinging the palms of Patricio as he holds on to a sweetly-struck effort.
Ronaldo just rolls his ankle into the turf after swinging at a Nani cross, with Sweden quickly advancing up the other end to win a corner kick. Larsson finally sends a decent cross into the penalty area which eventually drops to Ibrahimovic, who blasts a very difficult chance over the crossbar. Much more like it from the hosts.
HALF-TIME Sweden 0-0 Portugal (0-1 on aggregate)
Well it's still just about advantage Portugal in the tie, but in all Sweden should breathe a sigh of relief at the interval. The visitors could have been out of sight with more ruthless finishing, but Ronaldo and Almeida have failed to take advantage on the counter and a World Cup place remains very much up for grabs.
Sweden only managed to register a single shot on target from distance in that opening half, which came just moments before the interval. Hamren's side must surely take more risks when play resumes, with Ibrahimovic still too isolated and starved of quality service.
The best chance of the first half undoubtedly fell to Almeida, who somehow managed to head wide from close range. Sweden have been caught cold by quick counters led by Ronaldo on more than occasion, but have rode their luck and showed some encouraging signs just before the break.
BENCH WATCH! There are plenty of options waiting in the wings on both benches tonight, hoping to produce a decisive moment if called upon. Sweden must surely consider using either Toivonen or Svensson after the interval, while Portugal have pace of Verela or the poise of Postiga among their replacements.
SUBSTITUTION: We are back underway with news of a change for Sweden, as Svensson replaces Elm in central midfield to win his 148th cap. Can his experience help the hosts respond? Time is running out!
Patricio comes out confidently to claim Lustig's early cross as Sweden look to make a more positive start, with Nani bringing down Olsson at the other end soon after. The full-back landed awkwardly on his shoulder and gets up with a grimace. That's one to keep an eye on for the next few minutes.
GOAL! Sweden (0)0-1(2) Portugal (Ronaldo)
Swedish hearts are broken as Larsson spurns their best chance of the night, with Ronaldo racing through to possibly settle the tie just 60 seconds later. The Real Madrid marksman raced beyond Olsson and onto a superb lofted pass from Moutinho and never looked like missing, unleashing a composed finish into the far corner for a vital away goal.
SUBSTITUTION: Portugal swap Antunes for Coentrao soon after scoring, with the Real Madrid full-back clearly far form full fitness. Olsson then shows some frustration from the restart, clattering into the back of Nani at the expense of a caution. A reminder that the hosts now need three goals to keep their fleeting World Cup dream alive.
Nani and Almeida show strength under pressure as Sweden press forward, with Ibrahimovic eventually winning the ball back but sending a scooped cross clear of the penalty area. Quality delivery has been at a premium for the Swedes in both legs!
YELLOW CARD! Nani is booked for a trip on Svensson just moments after Ronaldo hit the deck wanting another free kick. Howard Webb was unmoved though, allowing play to continue before issuing Nani with a deserved caution.
YELLOW CARD! Svensson quickly follows Nani into the referee's notebook after a cynical challenge on Ronaldo, using all his experience to break up a potent break on the halfway line. Sweden are starting to look desperate but have no choice.
GOAL! Sweden (1)1-1(2) Portugal (Ibrahimovic)
Sweden have a lifeline courtesy of a well-placed header from Ibrahimovic, but has it come too late? After finally getting service from a Kallstrom corner the forward duly obliges, beating Bruno Alves with ease before nodding beyond Patricio. Game on!
YELLOW CARD! Sweden have a penalty appeal turned down as Kallstrom bursts onto a loose ball in the box, before going down claiming a foul from Antunes. Howard Webb disagrees though, deciding that there was no contact and booking the experienced midfielder for simulation.
Sweden win a free kick inches outside the penalty area after Veloso clumsily lunged into the back of Elmander in an attempt to win an aerial duel. Ibrahimovic, Larrson and Kallstrom all want to take but the goalscorer pulls rank. Can he deliver!
GOAL! Sweden (2)2-1(2) Portugal (Ibrahimovic)
He may have taken some time to make a mark on the tie but Ibrahimovic is in vintage form now, smashing an unstoppable free kick into the corner with authority. Elmander created the gap in the wall and his strike partner took full advantage, unleashing with venom to set up a grandstand finish to the tie. Another Sweden goal would take them through to the World Cup!
GOAL! Sweden (2)2-2(3) Portugal (Ronaldo)
Sheer class from Ronaldo on the counter as another ruthless counter probably puts the tie beyond Sweden at long last. The forward raced beyond an exposed Sweden defence to meet Almedia's clever pass round the corner, before finishing with authority.
GOAL! Sweden (2)2-3(4) Portugal (Ronaldo)
Wild celebrations from the visitors as Ronaldo completes his hat-trick with another quite magnificent finish on the break. His quick thinking caught Nilsson cold following a forward pass from Moutinho, but there was still plenty to do. With Isaksson rushing off his line Ronaldo didn't panic, rounding the goalkeeper before clattering just under the crossbar. That goal removes any doubt, Portugal will qualify for next summer's finals!
SUBSTITUTIONS: Changes from both bosses after a frenetic passage of play, following another Ronaldo effort that drifted just beyond the far post. Ricardo Costa has replaced Almeida for the visitors, while Sweden swap Kacaniklic for Durmaz.
YELLOW CARD! Antonsson is booked for a clumsy challenge on Veloso as the clock runs out on Sweden, with Elmander firing over the top just moments before.
Ronaldo nearly caps his night with another solo run and finish, uncorking a powerful effort from 25 yards which flashes just past Isaksson at the far post.
SUBSTITUTION: Larsson is replaced by Gerndt in the closing stages, how the Sunderland midfielder may look back on that early miss and think what might have been!
Ronaldo flicks just wide of an empty net after controlling on his chest in mid-air out of almost nothing, coming very close to embarrassing Isaksson as he was caught out of position.
Durmaz drives forward as Sweden search for pride in the final few moments, with Costa clearing a cross out for a corner kick as we head into the final minute of added time.
FULL-TIME Sweden (2)2-3(4)Portugal (Portugal qualify for World Cup finals)
After a rollercoaster in Solna it is Portugal who have emerged victorious, thanks largely to an inspired display from Ronaldo. His hat-trick is enough to send Portugal to next summer's South American showpiece in a 4-2 aggregate win, with an Ibrahimovic brace not enough to save the Swedes.
That just about brings an end to our live coverage from an extraordinary World Cup qualifier, but be sure to stick around for comprehensive news and analysis from Sports Mole on a huge night across the continent. Thanks for your company and goodnight.
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