After a relatively slow start, Sweden gained momentum going forward, but Korea was proving to be a tough nut to crack. Backed by the undaunted Cho Hyun-woo between the sticks, the Taegeuk Warriors braved wave after wave of attack. But Sweden knew they’d crack after a certain point.
And that’s exactly what happened when they tried to up the ante. Korea grew desperate and Victor Claesson drew a foul out of Kim Min-Woo inside the area resulting in a penalty, after the VAR intervention, of course. Granqvist stepped up and nonchalantly slotted a low drive, sending Hyun-woo the wrong way.
Sweden’s sustained pressure bore dividends, even though not directly. But they wouldn’t care as they got the job done eventually. The likes of Mexico and Germany, despite the defeat, are unlikely to wilt like this, and there Sweden would have to have the cutting edge to convert pressure into chances and chances into goals.