Sweden hammer Tunisia 5-1 to take charge of Group F

GUADALUPE: Sweden surged to the top of World Cup Group F with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia on Sunday, handing the North African side a heavy defeat after they had built a strong defensive reputation in qualifying.

Sweden moved ahead in the seventh minute when Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari struck from outside the area after a defensive mix-up. The midfielder, who is of Moroccan and Tunisian descent, kept his celebration subdued despite the quality of the finish.

The Scandinavians doubled their advantage after 30 minutes following a swift counterattack. Alexander Isak broke down the left, cut inside and got his shot away, with Tunisia goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh unable to keep the effort out despite getting a hand to the ball.

Tunisia had not conceded a single goal during qualifying, becoming the first team to manage that, a mark later matched by Ivory Coast and England. But they were exposed repeatedly by Sweden, who looked capable of adding more before Tunisia reduced the deficit just before halftime. Omar Rekik scored with a header from Hannibal Mejbri's delivery to give his side a route back into the contest.

Any momentum Tunisia gained before the break was short-lived. In the 59th minute, Ellyes Skhiri was dispossessed on the edge of the box, allowing Isak to set up Viktor Gyokeres, and the Arsenal forward finished to restore Sweden's two-goal lead.

Substitute Mattias Svanberg then added a fourth late in the game after a VAR review confirmed he was onside. Ayari completed the scoring with another powerful strike from outside the penalty area, capping an emphatic Swedish display.

Group standings and background

The result put Sweden in control of Group F after Japan had earlier drawn 2-2 with the Netherlands.

Sweden reached the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia but failed to qualify for the tournament in Qatar four years later. Tunisia, meanwhile, made history as the first African side to win a World Cup match when they defeated Mexico in 1978, but they have never advanced beyond the group stage.