Sweden produced a dominant display to defeat Tunisia 5-1 on Sunday, dealing a major blow to the North African side’s defensive reputation and moving to the top of Group F at the FIFA World Cup.
The Scandinavians took an early lead in Guadeloupe through midfielder Yasin Ayari, whose powerful long-range strike found the net in the seventh minute following a defensive mix-up by Tunisia. Despite the quality of the goal, Ayari, who has Moroccan and Tunisian roots, celebrated modestly.
Sweden doubled their advantage through Liverpool forward Alexander Isak, who cut inside before firing a shot that slipped past goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh despite getting a hand to the effort.
Tunisia entered the tournament with an impressive defensive record, having failed to concede a single goal during qualification, a feat later matched by Ivory Coast and England.
The North Africans, however, found a way back into the contest shortly before halftime when Omar Rekik headed home a precise cross from Hannibal Mejbri to reduce the deficit.
Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived as Sweden restored their two-goal cushion in the 59th minute following another costly Tunisian error. Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri lost possession on the edge of the penalty area, allowing Isak to set up Viktor Gyokeres, who finished clinically.
Sweden continued to dominate proceedings and added further goals to complete an emphatic 5-1 victory, underlining their credentials as serious contenders in the group.
The result strengthens Sweden’s position at the top of Group F and revives memories of their run to the quarter-finals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The team failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
For Tunisia, the defeat represents a disappointing setback in their quest to reach the knockout stages for the first time. The North Africans made history in 1978 as the first African nation to win a World Cup match but have never progressed beyond the group phase.
Earlier in Group F, Japan scored a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands.
