Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport
Philip O'Connor

Lata Akbaba double gives Turkey 3-2 Nations League win in Sweden

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Sweden v Turkey - Friends Arena, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden - September 10, 2018. TT News Agency/Jonas Ekstromer via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Turkey's substitute Emre Akbaba got two late goals to snatch a stunning 3-2 win over Sweden in the Nations League as the visitors recovered from two goals down at the Friends Arena on Monday.

The midfielder first rifled home Cenk Tosun's pass to level the score two minutes from time and then sent a glancing header past home goalkeeper Robin Olsen, sealing the comeback win to the delight of the thousands of Turkish fans in the crowd.

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Sweden v Turkey - Friends Arena, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden - September 10, 2018. TT News Agency/Jonas Ekstromer via REUTERS

Turkey, who suffered a 2-1 home defeat by Russia in their opening League B Group 2 game, started well and had lots of possession but the final ball into the box often lacked quality.

Sweden had taken the lead in their opening Nations League match when Isaac Kiese-Thelin scored 10 minutes before the break, flicking Viktor Claesson's cushioned header against the post before slotting home the rebound.

Claesson got on the scoresheet himself four minutes into the second half, drifting in from the left before releasing a rocket of a shot from distance that flew into the net.

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Sweden v Turkey - Friends Arena, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden - September 10, 2018. TT News Agency/Jonas Ekstromer via REUTERS

Hakan Calhanoglu quickly threw Turkey a lifeline, pulling a goal back two minutes later with a deflected shot that wrong-footed home keeper Olsen.

The Swedes, whose defensive organisation helped them reach the quarter-finals at this year's World Cup in Russia where they were defeated by England, had several chances to increase their lead, but Akbaba had the final say to secure the points.

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Sweden v Turkey - Friends Arena, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden - September 10, 2018. TT News Agency/Jonas Ekstromer via REUTERS

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.