Sweden's World Cup qualifying hopes hit by 2-0 loss away to Kosovo

AFP

Sweden's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were dented on Monday after they suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Kosovo, who had Lindon Emerllahu sent off in second-half stoppage time for picking up a second yellow card.

The Swedes, who conceded a 90-th minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw away to Slovenia on Friday, went behind in the 26th minute as goalkeeper Robin Olsen blocked Elvis Rexhbecaj's shot only for the rebound to fly off the midfielder's shin into the net.

Vedat Muriqi made it 2-0 for Kosovo three minutes before the break and although Sweden brought on Alexander Isak, the most expensive player in Premier League history after moving to Liverpool, they could not find a way back into the game.

The victory moved Kosovo up to second place in Group B on three points, three behind Switzerland, who thumped Slovenia 3-0 to make it two wins out of two. The Swedes are third on one point, ahead of Slovenia on goal difference.

The top team in each group qualify directly for next year's finals with the runners-up going into the playoffs.

More from Sports

  • Sarfaraz named Pakistan's test coach for Bangladesh series

    Pakistan appointed former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as head coach of their test team for the two-match series in Bangladesh next month, the country's cricket board said on Saturday.

  • Coventry promoted to Premier League after 25-year absence

    Coventry City ended their 25-year absence from the Premier League with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, securing promotion from the Championship with three games to spare on Friday.

  • Gujarat sink Kolkata with adaptable bowling in IPL

    Gujarat Titans adapted to conditions to secure a five-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada said, focusing on tight bowling instead of the explosive batting that has been the hallmark of the Indian Premier League.

  • Alcaraz pulls out of Madrid Open for second straight year

    Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Madrid Open for the second consecutive year after withdrawing on Friday with a wrist injury, dealing another blow to the world number two's clay court preparations ahead of his French Open title defence.

  • Injured Djokovic to miss Madrid Open

    Novak Djokovic is still working through the injury problems that forced him to miss recent tournaments in Miami and Monte Carlo and said on Friday that he will not feature at next week's Madrid Open, one of the last stops before the French Open.

News