Sweden 1-2 Chile
Football games can be cyclical.
And this was one perfect example.
Two goals in as many minutes had seemed the height of the football betting excitement as the Swedes, who had slain mighty Italy to reach this summer’s World Cup, and Chile—the Copa America holders whose late loss of form proved so costly in qualifying—went head to head.
Yet, live betting was in for one more twist in Stockholm.
Step forward Marco Bolados who, on his international debut, pounced in the first minute of stoppage time after captain Alexis Sanchez saw his close-range shot well parried by Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
It’s La Roja delight and a little Swedish frustration. However, it’s no more than that in the Friends Arena for the Scandinavians as they know they have something far more tangible than the South Americans—a place at Russia 2018.
Until Bolados’ late intervention, two quick goals had provided the main talking point.
No sooner after Arturo Vidal smashed a superb volley into the net, following the hosts’ failure to clear a corner, Ola Toivonen then fired in instant response.
Both nations had their threatening moments, but a draw looked on the cards until Bolados capped a dream debut.
A good start also for new Chile manager Reinaldo Rueda after succeeding Juan Antonio Pizzi. He departed in October after the late collapse meant Chile missed out on a World Cup place which, for so long, seemed destined to be theirs.
The South Americans are staying in Scandinavia over the next few days before heading to Aalborg to face Denmark, while Sweden continue their build-up with a trip to Craiova to face Romania.
Chile will not need telling though that no amount of friendly success can mask the disappointment of not being involved in the world spectacle which is now less than three months away.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.