Andreas Granqvist penalty seals Sweden win against South Korea

Sweden won their opening match at the World Cup for the first time since 1958 as Andreas Granqvist’s second-half penalty put South Korea to the sword in their Group F opener at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

A scrappy first half finished goalless, with Swedish striker Marcus Berg having the best opportunity to break the deadlock, but he side-footed the ball into the knee of South Korea goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo from point blank range in the 21st minute.

The game followed a similar pattern in the second period, with neither side able to stamp their authority on the match, but Sweden would secure the win courtesy of a VAR-assisted penalty.

Referee Joel Aguilar had adjudged Kim Min-woo’s challenge on Viktor Claesson to have won the ball with 66 minutes gone but, after consulting a replay, pointed to the spot.

Centre-half Granqvist stepped up to coolly slot home the penalty to claim all three points and send Sweden top of the group, level with Mexico on three points.

Defeat will be a huge blow to South Korea who will now likely need to beat Germany and Mexico to progress to the last 16 of the competition.

Sweden withstand pressure to claim vital and deserved victory. With Mexico shocking the world and upsetting the natural order of Group F with their 1-0 victory over Germany on Sunday, the pressure was ramped up on Sweden and South Korea to win their opening game. Sweden hadn’t scored a goal in over 400 minutes and there was cause for concern for Janne Anderson that his side had yet to find the breakthrough after an hour of play, despite creating numerous opportunities.

The Swedes will be mightily relieved that VAR worked in their favour as their captain and centre-back Granqvist stepped up to coolly convert a penalty to seal a well-deserved victory. They have two tough games to play with Germany to come next but the result means Sweden stand a great chance of making it through the group.

Andrea Granqvist (Sweden): Touted as Sweden's key player pre-tournament, the 33-year-old is known for his defensive ability rather than his composure in front of goal. On this performance, the former Wigan man is dangerous at both ends of the pitch. Leading from the back, the centre-back never put a foot wrong all afternoon and takes the match-ball for his defining penalty.

Sweden: Jo Olsen 7, Lustig 7, Granqvist 8, Jansson 7, Augustinsson 7, Larsson 7, Ekdal 7, Claesson 7, Forsberg 7, Toivonen 6, Berg 6. Subs: Svensson N/A, Thelin 5, Hijlemark 5.

South Korea: Cho Hyun-Woo 8, Lee Yong 6, Kim Young-Gwon 8, Jang Hyun-Soo 6, Park Joo-Ho 6, Lee Seung-Woo 6, Koo Ja-Cheol 6, Ki Sung-yueng 6, Lee Jae-Sung 6, Hwang Hee-Chan 6, Son Heung-Min 6. Subs: Woo-Lee 5, Woo-Young Jung 5, Min-Woo Kim 5.

20’ - WHAT A SAVE! A cross trickles its way through to Berg who has time and space to pick his spot, but from point-blank range is denied by the legs of Cho Hyun-Woo who gathers himself to punch the loose ball out for a corner.

30' - CRUCIAL CHALLENGE! Larsson's corner delivery falls to Berg inside the penalty area but not for the first time this afternoon Young Gwon-Kim slides in to make an important intervention!

45’+2 - CLOSE! Listig's great delivery is met by the head of Claesson but his bullet header drifts agonisingly wide of the goal. Replays show it came off a defender last and Sweden win the corner.

63' - THE PENALTY IS GIVEN! Claesson goes over in the penalty box and Sweden are demanding a spot-kick! The referee is having a look at the video replay...Sweden have a perfect chance to take the lead... The replays show Kim Min-wo committed a clear foul on Claesson. It's the right decision.

65’ - GOAL! Sweden 1-0 South Korea. The captain Granqvist steps up from centre-back to take the penalty... and side-foots it into the bottom corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way!

90'+2 - SOUTH KOREA CHANCE! Hwang is unmarked at the back post to meet a devilish corner from the left, but he inexplicitly heads wide from a matter of yards out. What an opportunity to draw the game...

This was Sweden’s first win in their opening match at the World Cup since 1958 when they beat Mexico 3-0 as tournament hosts - they had drawn five and lost two of their previous seven.

Andreas Granqvist's goal was the first penalty scored by Sweden at the World Cup since 2002, when Henrik Larsson netted against Nigeria.

The first shot in this match came after exactly 20 minutes – the second longest wait for a first attempt in a World Cup match since 1966 (20:59, Netherlands vs Costa Rica in 2014).