England eliminates Sweden

By MATTIAS KAREN

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 5:19 p.m. ET June 15, 2012

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - England eliminated Sweden from the European Championship on Friday after Theo Walcott scored one goal and set up another for an entertaining come-from-behind 3-2 win.

Walcott came on as a substitute and made it 2-2 in the 64th minute and then set up Danny Welbeck for the winner in the 78th as England earned its first win over Sweden in a competitive game in eight tries.

Andy Carroll had given England the halftime lead with a powerful header in the 23rd but Sweden fought back through an own-goal by Glen Johnson and a header by Olof Mellberg.

England only needs a draw against Ukraine in its last game to advance. The result may also silence some of the critics who thought the team has become too defensive under coach Roy Hodgson as it proved that it can score goals when it needs to.

Sweden, for its part, let a second-half lead slip away for the second game in a row after falling 2-1 to Ukraine in its opener. While the Swedes put in a much-improved performance on Friday, they once again failed to shut their opponents down defensively.

Andy Carroll had given England the halftime lead with a powerful header in the 23rd minute as Sweden was again exposed in the air, demonstrating exactly why Hodgson elected to start the tall Liverpool forward up front.

But Sweden fought back through an unlikely source in Mellberg, whose shot past Joe Hart was pushed into the net by Glen Johnson.

Walcott then started the English comeback when a corner was headed out to the Arsenal winger outside the area and his shot somehow fooled Isaksson, who was falling the wrong way and flailing with his arms as he watched the ball fly into the middle of the net.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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More newsAlexander Demianchuk / Reuters

England eliminates Sweden

England eliminated Sweden from the European Championship on Friday after Theo Walcott scored one goal and set up another for an entertaining come-from-behind 3-2 win.

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