A Sweden free kick inside their own box will eat up some more valuable seconds here. The South Korean players are claiming handball inside the box but the referee is having none of it.
90' +1
CHANCE! A cross from the left is headed back across goal from the back post. Hwang is completely unmarked in the box, but he can only divert his header wide of the left post with the goal at his mercy.
90'
Another tame end to a South Korean attack. It just hasn't happened for them today. They have four minutes of injury time to find a way through this packed Sweden defence.
88'
Lee Yong's attack down the right wing comes to an end as he is adjudged to have fouled Forsberg. Time is running out for the Koreans.
86'
The Sweden fans are making plenty of noise as they spur their side on to what could be a vital three points. Mexico and Germany will be expected to be much tougher tests.
84'
South Korea are seeing plenty of the ball here but they are struggling to find any way past the sea of yellow shirts.
82'
South Korea have a free kick in a good position but the delivery is poor. It is cleared as far as Lee Seung-woo, who can only fire his low effort far wide of the near post.
81'
G. Svensson enters the game and replaces S. Larsson.
Injury blow for Sweden as Larsson limps off the pitch. Svensson comes on to replace him.
78'
Son tries to worm his way through the centre of the Sweden defence but he is crowded out. South Korea maintain possession though. This could be a long 10 minutes for the Swedes.
Minute
Description
77'
I. Kiese Thelin enters the game and replaces O. Toivonen.
Toivonen is replaced by Thelin in Sweden's second change of the afternoon. Thelin will bring the Swedes a little more attacking threat as they look to kill the game off with a second goal.
75'
Sweden are pressing high now and making it difficult for South Korea to build from the back. The Koreans have just under 15 minutes to find an equaliser.
72'
Lee Seung-Woo enters the game and replaces Koo Ja-Cheol.
Final throw of the dice for South Korea as Koo replaces Lee Seung-woo.
71'
O. Hiljemark enters the game and replaces A. Ekdal.
Ekdal is replaced by Hiljemark for Sweden's first substitution of the afternoon.
70'
That goal has knocked the wind out of South Korea a little bit. They were starting to take charge of the game and beginning to offer much more attacking threat, but it is all Sweden now.
66'
Jung Woo-Young enters the game and replaces Kim Shin-Wook.
Kim Shin-wook is replaced by Jung as South Korea try to find their way back into the game.
65'
Penalty goal scored by A. Granqvist for Sweden!
GOAL! Sweden take the lead, 1-0! Granqvist steps up to take the penalty and calmly slots the ball into the bottom right corner, with the goalkeeper diving the other way.
61'
V. Claesson gets yellow.
Claesson receives a yellow card for a late sliding challenge on Hwang.
60'
The corner comes to nothing and Sweden eventually come away with a free kick. South Korea have certainly been the better side in this second half so far.
59'
CHANCE! Granqvist is robbed on the edge of the box by Hwang and the South Korean forward can charge into the box. He tries to find a teammate inside the six yard box but Jansson gets a foot in the way to knock it out for a corner.
57'
CHANCE! A Sweden free kick from the left is headed towards goal by Berg at the near post, but Cho reacts well to prevent the goal, before a defender hammers it clear. He's had a very good game today, Cho.
55'
Hwang Hee-Chan gets yellow.
Hwang receives a yellow card for catching the top of the foot of Augustinsson.
54'
One of many needless fouls in this game as Kim Min-woo slides in late on Claesson.
53'
South Korea are beginning to impose themselves on the game now and have certainly stepped it up a notch. Their midfielders are moving the ball around with a sense of purpose and swagger.
51'
CHANCE! A cross from the left finds Koo at the front post but he can only direct his header into the side netting. That was South Korea's best attack of the game by far.
48'
Sweden try to play through the centre of a packed South Korea defence but it comes to nothing. South Korea's counter attack comes to a tame end too and Forsberg finds space outside the box at the other end to get a shot away, but he curls it high and wide.
46'
Sweden get the game back underway!
45' +3
HALF-TIME: SWEDEN 0-0 SOUTH KOREA.
45' +2
CHANCE! An excellent cross from the right wing finds Larsson inside the box, but he can only fire his header wide of the right post.
45'
The fourth official has indicated two minutes of additional time.
43'
A wonderful lofted pass finds Berg free at the back post. The angle is too tight for the shot and no teammate is nearby to get on the end of his pass. Another big missed opportunity for Sweden.
42'
Son goes down inside the box under the challenge from Augustinsson but the referee is quick to wave away the penalty appeals. They have not really offered much attacking threat in this first half in truth, South Korea.
40'
Just over five minutes left to play of this first half and neither side have really taken charge of the game yet. Sweden have had the better opportunities but Cho and his defenders have been on top form today.
37'
South Korea come forward on the counter attack after Forsberg is robbed of possession in midfield, but they lack the pace to trouble the Sweden defence, who clear with relative ease.
35'
Great defending! Son has too much pace for his marker and bursts free down the right wing. He tries to find a teammate inside the box with a pull-back but Granqvist intercepts and clears.
33'
Another tame end to a South Korean attack. They have players free on the left wing but Jang's overhit pass is straight out of play.
31'
It has been a very physical first 30 minutes or so between these two sides. They have committed 19 fouls between them so far. Neither side have been able to maintain any flow to their play.
29'
CHANCE! A corner from the right wing drops straight at the feet of Berg at the back post. He looks sure to score but Koo reacts excellently to get the block in.
28'
Kim Min-Woo enters the game and replaces Park Joo-Ho.
Park will play no further part in the tie after that leg injury. Kim Min-woo comes on to replace him.
27'
Concern for South Korea now as Park goes down injured off the field of play. He landed awkwardly as he tried to keep the ball in play with a header.
26'
A spell of South Korea possession comes to a tame end as they concede a throw in. Sweden are getting everybody behind the ball and closing down any space beyond them.
22'
South Korea continue to sit off Sweden and they are finding their way to the final third almost unchallenged.
20'
CHANCE! South Korea fail to clear their lines and a precise through ball finds Berg with only the goalkeeper to beat, but he fires his shot straight at Cho who stops it with his feet before punching the follow up clear. He should have scored.
18'
Excellent play and even better defending! A clever flick from Berg puts Granqvist through on goal but Kim Young-gwon reacts brilliantly to block the shot and clear the danger.
17'
Sweden are beginning to see more of the ball now. South Korea are content to sit deep and keep their defensive shape.
14'
Sweden finally get numbers forward and a clever interchange inside the right of the box opens up space for a pass. The South Korea defenders react quickly to snuff out the danger. Better from Sweden though.
12'
Kim Shin-Wook gets yellow.
Kim Shin-wook receives the first booking of the afternoon after a late sliding challenge on Berg around the halfway line.
11'
Korea come flying forward down the left wing but Lee Jae-sung's cross is poor, flying over the heads of everyone. They retain the ball on the opposite wing but the attack comes to nothing and Sweden get it clear.
10'
Signs of frustration from Larsson as he clips the heel of Kim Shin-wook around the halfway line.
8'
Sweden just can't keep hold of the ball at the moment. There is a sea of yellow shirts when South Korea are on the attack but there is little option up front when Sweden try to break. Too easy for the Koreans.
6'
It is not the best of deliveries by Son but Kim Shin-wook gets ahead of his marker at the near post to get his head to it. He can only divert it far wide of the near post though. Good start from the Koreans.
5'
It is a good inswinging delivery towards the back post but Olsen rises well to punch it clear. Sweden don't get it clear properly though and South Korea have a free kick from a decent crossing position.
3'
South Korea with the possession early on, playing in all white. Hwang tries to burst his way beyond the back line on the right wing and earns his side the first corner of the game.
1'
We're underway!
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of today’s World Cup Group F game between Sweden and South Korea at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Sweden are competing at their first World Cup since 2006 after knocking out Italy in the play-offs; and they will be optimistic about their chances of an opening day victory against a side they are unbeaten against in their last four meetings.
However, history is against the Swedish. They have only progressed beyond the last-16 twice, finishing third in 1994 and as runners-up on home soil in 1958. In his first World Cup as manager, Janne Andersson will be aiming to match that feat for only the third time in the country’s history.
Manager Shin Tae-Yong has been in charge of South Korea for only two matches, both of which were goalless draws against Iran and Uzbekistan. The Koreans themselves have won only one of their last nine World Cup games and will be many peoples underdogs in a group that contains world champions Germany.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this afternoon…
South Korea are the most successful Asian team in terms of World Cup appearances, with this being their 10th edition in total. The last time they failed to qualify for the tournament was in 1986. Their best finish was when they reached the semi-finals in 2002 as co-hosts alongside Japan, losing to Germany and then to Turkey in the third-place play-off.
Sweden XI (4-4-2): Robin Olsen; Mikael Lustig, Pontus Jansson, Andreas Granqvist, Ludwig Augustinsson; Viktor Claesson, Albin Ekdal, Sebastian Larsson, Emil Forsberg; Marcus Berg, Ola Toivonen.
Sweden substitutes: Marcus Rohden, Martin Olsson, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Filip Helander, Gustav Svensson, Karl-Johan Johnsson, Jimmy Durmaz, Victor Lindelof, Emil Krafth, Oscar Hiljemark, Isaac Thelin, John Guidetti.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
It is all square at the break but Sweden will certainly be the happier side after showing glimpses of creative attacking play. Berg could have twice put his side ahead but was denied by Cho and Koo. South Korea have offered little attacking threat themselves and will need to be much more incisive if they are to get anything out of this game.
The second half is imminent but it all still to play for between these two sides. It will surely be more of the same for Sweden but South Korea will certainly need to up the quality of the final ball if they are to cause the Swedes any problems.
South Korea XI (4-4-2): Cho Hyun-woo, Lee Yong, Kim Young-gwon, Jan Hyun-soo, Park Joo-ho; Kim Shin-wook, Koo Ja-cheol, Ki Sung-yueng, Lee Jae-sung; Hwang Hee-chan, Son Heung-min.
South Korea substitutes: Kim Seung-gyu, Lee Seung-woo, Yun Young-sun, Kim Jin-hyeon, Jung Woo-young, Ju Se-jong, Moon Seon-min, Hong Chul, Ko Yo-han, Jung Seung-hyun, Oh Ban-suk, Kim Min-woo.
Sweden secure what could prove to be a vital three points. Granqvist scored a penalty after the referee consulted VAR to pull play back for a foul inside the box. The goal came at a time when the South Koreans were beginning to take control of the game, which turned the tide in favour of the Swedes. South Korea dominated possession afterwards but lacked the cutting edge to really trouble Olsen in the Sweden goal. Sweden will face Germany in their next game, while South Korea face joint-group leaders Mexico.
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