Ayari shines as Sweden thrash Tunisia in Monterrey
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 15.06.26. | 07:08
Sweden next face the Netherlands on Saturday, while Tunisia take on Japan on Sunday morning.
Sweden opened their Group F campaign with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia at the Estadio Monterrey on Monday morning, in a match they totally dominated from start to finish.
The Swedes started on the front foot and were rewarded early when Yasin Ayari reacted sharply to a rebound on the edge of the box, unleashing a powerful strike into the top right corner for 1-0 in the 7th minute. Tunisia struggled to cope with Sweden’s intensity and movement, and despite brief spells on the ball, they were largely pinned back in their own half.
Sweden continued to dictate play, creating chance after chance. Viktor Gyökeres came close before Alexander Isak doubled the lead in the 30th minute, weaving past defenders and finishing low into the net to make it 2-0.
Tunisia, however, showed resilience and pulled one back just before half-time when Hannibal Mejbri delivered an inch-perfect cross for Omar Rekik to head home in the 43rd minute, making it 2-1 at the break despite Sweden’s clear superiority.
After the restart, Sweden resumed full control, maintaining high possession and pressing aggressively. Tunisia attempted to respond through set pieces and occasional breaks, but the Swedish defence remained largely untroubled, with Kristoffer Nordfeldt stepping in confidently when needed. Sweden’s attacking pressure soon told again when a defensive mistake allowed Gyökeres to pounce and slot home for 3-1 in the 59th minute.
Graham Potter’s side rotated effectively, introducing fresh legs including Lucas Bergvall, Anthony Elanga, Daniel Svensson, Elliot Stroud, and Mattias Svanberg, while Alexander Isak and Alexander Bernhardsson made way. Injuries and stoppages, including a setback for Gabriel Gudmundsson, briefly interrupted Sweden’s rhythm, but they never lost control of the match.
Tunisia’s attempts to build momentum through Mejbri and Elias Saad were repeatedly broken down, with offsides, interceptions, and misplaced final balls limiting their threat. Sweden, meanwhile, continued to pile on pressure, forcing corners and maintaining territorial dominance.
The fourth goal arrived in the 84th minute when Mattias Svanberg pounced on a loose ball inside the box to finish clinically into the bottom corner for 4-1. A VAR check momentarily delayed celebrations but the goal was eventually confirmed.
In stoppage time, Ayari capped a brilliant individual performance with his second goal in the 90+6 minute, smashing a powerful effort inside the right post to seal a 5-1 rout.
Sweden next face the Netherlands on Saturday, while Tunisia take on Japan on Sunday morning.
WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE
First round
Thursday, 11.06.
Mexico - S.Africa 2-0 (1-0)
/Quinones 9, Jimenez 67/
Friday, 12. 06.
South Korea - Czech Republic 2-1 (0-0)
/Hwang In Beom 67, Oh Hyeon-Gyu 80 - Krejci 59/
Canada - B&H 1-1 (0-1)
/Larin 78 - Lukic 21/
Saturday, 13.06.
USA - Paraguay 4-1 (3-0)
/Bobadilla 7 og, Balogun 31, 45+5, Reyna 90+8 - Mauricio 73/
Qatar - Switzerland 1-1 (0-1)
/Khoukhi 90+4 - Embolo 17 pen/
Sunday, 14.06.
Brazil - Morocco 1-1 (1-1)
/Vinicius 42- Saibari 21/
Haiti 0-1 Scotland (0-1)
/McGinn 29/
Australia - Turkey 2-0 (1-0)
/Irankunda 27, Metcalfe 75/
Germany - Curacao 7-1 (3-1)
/Nmecha 6, Schlotterbeck 38, Havertz 45+3(p), 88, Musiala 47, Brown 68, Undav 78 - Comenencia 21/
Netherlands - Japan 2-2 (0-0)
/Van Dijk 51, Summerville 64 - Nakamura 57, Kamada 88/
Monday, 15.06.
Ivory Coast-Ecuador 1-0 (0-0)
/Diallo 90/
Sweden-Tunisia 5-1 (2-1)
/Ayari 7, 90+6 Isak 30, Gyokeres 59, Svanberg 84-Reki 43/