'EPL players soared': Sweden crushes Tunisia 5-1, leaps to top of Group F ahead of Japan

*This content was translated by AI.

Sweden (FIFA ranking 38th), which kicked off the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup, defeated Tunisia (45th) and rose to the top of the group.

On the 15th (Korean time), Sweden dominated Tunisia 5-1 in the first Group F match of the tournament's group stage at the Monterrey Stadium in Mexico.

With this victory, Sweden accumulated 3 points (goal difference +4) and started the group stage at the top of the group, surpassing the Netherlands and Japan (both with 1 point), who drew 2-2 in their earlier head-to-head match.

In this tournament, the top two teams from each group and the eight best-performing third-place teams among the 12th groups will advance to the round of 32 knockout stage.

Relay goals from players competing in the English Premier League (EPL) led Sweden to their first victory in the tournament.

In particular, Alexander Isak (Liverpool), who started as a striker, contributed one goal and two assists, while Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal) recorded one goal and one assist, both playing outstanding roles. Yassin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion) also delivered a multi-goal performance.

Sweden broke the deadlock in the seventh minute of the first half when Ayari converted a loose ball following a defender's clearance of Gyokeres's shot with a powerful mid-range strike.

Momentum shifted to Sweden, and in the 30th minute of the first half, Isak widened the lead with a surprise right-footed mid-range shot during a counterattack that penetrated the left flank.

Tunisia also launched a counterattack. Omar Rekik (Maribor) headed in a cross from Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley) arriving from the right flank near the end of the first half to score a consolation goal.

However, Sweden regained control in the 14th minute of the second half when Gyokeres finished with his right foot after Isak won a challenge against a defender and passed the ball.

Then, in the 41st minute of the second half, a goal by Matthias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg) from a free-kick situation was confirmed after review by the video assistant referee (VAR), sealing the match.

In the final moments of stoppage time, Ayari's right-footed mid-range shot, the same one that scored the opening goal, violently shook the Tunisian net, putting a period on the contest.

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*This content was translated by AI.