Swedes stroll past Malta

Sweden got their World Cup qualification hopes back on track with a 4-0 thumping of basement side Malta.

Qualification hopes back on track with rout

Sweden got their World Cup qualification hopes back on track with a 4-0 thumping of basement side Malta in Group One. The win puts Sweden level on points with Portugal, while also equalling their goal difference in the process. Portugal remain in third position however as they have a better head-to-head record over the Swedes. It was a must-win game for coach Lars Lagerback as surprise pace setters Denmark and Hungary were not in action. Malta remain rooted to the bottom of the group and now possess a shocking goal difference of -21 following the defeat. Kim Kallstrom put his penalty miss at the weekend behind him when he opened the scoring for the home side on 22 minutes as Sweden went in at the break just one goal to the good. Lagerback's side began the second half in rampant fashion netting three quick-fire goals in a six minute frantic spell. Daniel Majstorovic began the blitz when he doubled Sweden's advantage on 52 minutes. Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic added a third in the 56th minute before Marcus Berg completed the rout two minutes later.