Soccer - Olsen's super save helps Sweden hold Russia to 0-0 draw
Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Sweden's Robin Olsen in action REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
KALININGRAD, Russia (Reuters) - Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen pulled off a world-class save as his side held Russia to a 0-0 draw in their Nations League B, Group 2 clash in Kaliningrad on Thursday.
Both teams exited this year's World Cup at the quarter-final stage and Sweden once again showcased the defensive stability that has made them so hard to beat under coach Janne Andersson.
The hosts failed to convert their dominance of possession into shots on target until 10 minutes from fulltime, when Olsen had to make a superb, acrobatic save to keep out a fearsome effort from Daler Kuzyaev.
Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Sweden coach Jan Andersson after the match REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
That was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock and the result leaves Russia top of the group on four points after two games.
Russia face second-placed Turkey, who are a point adrift, on Sunday, with the Swedes bottom on one point ahead of their friendly with Slovakia on Tuesday.
Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Russia's Mario Fernandes applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Russia's Daler Kuzyaev reacts after the match REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Russia's Daler Kuzyaev reacts after the match REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Russia's Artem Dzyuba reacts REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Russia's Denis Cheryshev shoots at goal REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Russia's Artem Dzyuba in action with Sweden's Mikael Lustig REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Russia's Aleksandr Golovin in action with Sweden's Viktor Claesson REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League B - Group 2 - Russia v Sweden - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Russia - October 11, 2018 Russia's Konstantin Rausch in action with Sweden's Viktor Claesson REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
