Sweden recover from early setback to shock Spain

Sweden bounced back from conceding an early goal to surprise Spain and emerge with a 2-1 victory in their World Cup qualifier on Thursday to take control of Group B.

The game was barely five minutes old when Spain debutant Carlos Soler put the visitors ahead with a smart half-volley from Jordi Alba's cross.

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The lead did not last long as a minute later Alexander Isak, who plays in Spain for Real Sociedad, capitalised on Sergio Busquets's error on the edge of the box to equalise.

"It's a shame, we went for the win, and probably in our best period of the game they scored their second goal," Spain captain Busquets said.

"The group is a lot more complicated now and we don't have things in our own hands. We were going well, but perhaps lacked a bit of luck, but we have to continue - there's still a number of games to go, even if right now the scenario isn't the best."

Both sides had chances before Viktor Claesson latched onto Dejan Kulusevski's centre to fire the winner after 57 minutes.

Ferran Torres and Adama Traore were denied equalisers by fine Robin Olsen stops, while Robin Quaison should have sealed the win for the hosts in the third minute of stoppage time, only to lift the ball over the onrushing Unai Simon and wide after Eric Garcia's misplaced header.

Group leaders Sweden move onto nine points with three wins from three games, while Euro 2020 semifinalists Spain drop to second with seven points having played a game more.