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Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Target as Sweden Beat Denmark

Denmark substitute Nicolai Jorgensen netted from close range with 10 minutes remaining to make it 2-1, reducing the aggregate deficit ahead of the second leg in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

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Ibrahimovic flicked the ball over Daniel Agger, setting Berg free in the area, and his shot across goal was pulled harmlessly wide.

And Bendtner is very pleased with the way Denmark reacted to stay in the game and believes they can do it.

Ibrahimovic would add his first goal against Sweden’s near neighbours, in addition to eight from as many appearances during the group stage, after 50 minutes when Forsberg won a penalty.

A backheel from Jimmy Durmaz allowed Mikael Lustig to sprint away down the right flank and his pass reached Forsberg at speed and the Leipzig winger buried a first-time shot into the corner past Kasper Schmeichel.

Ibrahimovic nearly made it two with the final act of the half, Schmeichel remarkably tipping a rasping free-kick wide after Daniel Agger was booked for crudely hacking down the PSG star on the edge of the area.

The crowd had barely taken their seats at the start of the second period when Forsberg was upended by Thomas Kahlenberg after a surging run into the box and Sweden captain Ibrahimovic thundered home the resulting spot-kick.

“We left a strong effort behind and their goal doesn’t mean anything”.

Ibrahimovic had a goal correctly ruled out for offside before Denmark belatedly stirred.

The visitors were asking few questions of the Swedish defence until the introduction of Jorgensen and Yussuf Poulsen turned the tide.

Ukraine, who have lost all five of their previous qualifying play-offs for major tournaments, dominated early but Samir Handanovic proved solid in the Slovenian goal in the opening 20 minutes.

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They avoided conceding again, yet Jorgensen’s first goal for his country left the tie in the balance.

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