Sensational Toni Kroos strike saves 10-man Germany in stoppage time
ByTNT Sports
Updated 23/06/2018 at 22:24 GMT+1
World Cup Group F, Fisht Stadium – Germany 2 (Reus 48’, Kroos 90+4’) Sweden 1 (Toivonen 32’)
Toni Kroos celebrates
Image credit: Getty Images
Toni Kroos curled home a spectacular stoppage-time free-kick to snatch 10-man Germany a 2-1 win over Sweden.
Joachim Low’s side were facing the prospect of crashing out of the tournament when 1-0 down at half-time following Ola Toivonen’s classy finish.
And Germany’s prospects did not look all that much brighter going into the final seconds of the game at 1-1, as hope from Marco Reus' equaliser was sucked away by a red card for defender Jerome Boateng.
But, with 94 minutes on the clock, up stepped Kroos to curl home a free-kick from a ridiculously tight angle to keep Germany’s World Cup defence alive.
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Toni Kroos of Germany celebrates scoring his sides winning goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Germany and Sweden at Fisht Stadium on June 23, 2018 in Sochi, Russia
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Should Sweden have had a first-half penalty? Berg was certainly impeded en route towards goal, but the referee wasn't interested in awarding a penalty nor reviewing it. Had they been two up at half-time, it may have been a very different outcome.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Robin Olsen (Sweden): The tall goalkeeper worked so hard against the unpredictable Germany attack, who, let's be honest, weren't sure what they were doing most of the time, which made anticipating it tough.
PLAYER RATINGS
Germany: Neuer 7, Hector 7, Draxler 7, Kroos 7, Werner 6, Reus 7, Muller 6, Rudiger 6, Boateng 5, Kimmich 6, Rudy 6. Subs - Gundogan 6, Gomez 7, Brandt 6.
Sweden: Olsen 8, Lustig 7, Lindelof 6, Granqvist 6, Augustinsson 6, Larsson 7, Ekdal 7, Claesson 7, Forsberg 7, Berg 7, Toivonen 7. Subs - Thelin 6, Guidetti 6, Durmaz 5.
KEY MOMENTS
12' - WHAT?! Berg is through on goal, Boateng nudges him in the back, and the Sweden player careens into Neuer. Nothing given - no VAR!
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Marcus Berg, Jerome Boateng, Manuel Neuer - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F - Germany-Sweden - Getty Images
Image credit: Getty Images
32' - GOAL! Germany 0-1 Sweden. Sweden take the lead, such a smart looping shot from Toivonen over the head of Neuer, who's left helpless. Great ball from Claesson too.
48' GOAL! Germany 1-1 Sweden. And two and a half minutes into the second half, Germany are back level as Werner puts in the ball from the left and Reus knees it past Olsen.
82' - NO RED CA... ACTUALLY, A RED CARD! Boateng upends Berg but no second booking is forthcoming. Oh! The referee has suddenly changed his mind! Boateng is off!
90'+2 - CLOSE! Brandt hits it on the volley, hammering it against the post, and it pings up and out for a goal kick.
90'+5 - GOAL! Germany 2-1 Sweden. And Kroos makes them pay for that error, curling in that free kick exquisitely, past the despairing hand of poor Olsen.
KEY STATS
With one goal and one assist, Marco Reus is the first German player involved in two goals on his first World Cup start since 2010 when Thomas Müller did it against Australia.
Toni Kroos' strike is the latest goal Germany have ever scored in a World Cup match (excluding extra-time).
Kroos made 144 touches against Sweden, a record for a German player in a World Cup game since 1966.
Jerome Boateng is the first German player to be sent off in a World Cup match since Miroslav Klose against Serbia in 2010.
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