Northern Ireland thrashed in Stockholm
Sweden 5 - 1 Northern Ireland
Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak delivered a standout performance, scoring one goal and setting up another as Sweden cruised to a 5-1 victory over a young Northern Ireland side in Stockholm.
Stadium - Strawberry Arena
Isak teed up Emil Holm for the opener in the seventh minute before Benjamin Nygren doubled the lead midway through the first half. Northern Ireland showed more fight after the break, but Sweden struck again when Ken Sema smashed in a rebound after Nygren’s flicked effort came back off the post.
Isak then added his name to the scoresheet with a stunning strike from 25 yards into the top corner, before substitute Anthony Elanga tucked home a fifth at the back post.
Northern Ireland did manage a late consolation when Isaac Price’s deflected strike from the edge of the box found the top corner, but it was little more than that. Attention now turns to June’s double-header before World Cup qualifying begins in September.
A reality check for Northern Ireland’s young squad
After Friday’s battling draw with Switzerland, Michael O’Neill had warned of bumps in the road for his developing squad. Few, however, would have expected one to come quite so soon or be as heavy as the 5-1 defeat in Stockholm.
Sweden’s current Nations League C status does not reflect their quality, and with a player of Isak’s calibre leading the line, they were ruthless. The hosts had also been stung by their recent defeat to Luxembourg, and they set about making amends in clinical fashion.
Northern Ireland’s journey under O’Neill has largely been one of optimism, driven by a fearless group of young players. This time, though, reality hit hard.
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Lining up with an average age of just 22.6, the visitors made a bright start, but defensive hesitancy cost them inside seven minutes. Fixated on Isak, arguably one of the most in-form strikers in Europe, the Northern Ireland backline lost track of Holm, who was left unmarked to fire home.
With several Northern Ireland first-choice defenders all absent, Sweden continued to waste little time in exploiting plenty of inexperience.
Sema added a third before Isak produced a moment of brilliance to blast in a fourth, and Nottingham Forest’s Elanga completed the rout.
Northern Ireland had their moments but failed to take their chances, and by the time Price’s deflected shot found the net in stoppage time, the damage had long been done.
