For Goal Highlights please visit BEST FB KL's World Cup Centre: http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2018/06/world-cup-2018-match-schedule-in.html
Germany 2-1 Sweden: Toni Kroos nets brilliant last-gasp winner to keep reigning champions' World Cup hopes alive after Jerome Boateng receives red card
- Ola Toivonen scored a brilliant goal for Sweden on 32 minutes, chipping Manuel Neuer in the penalty area
- Immediately after the restart, forward Marco Reus equalised after guiding the ball home with his knee
- Defender Jerome Boateng was sent off in the 81st minute after picking up a second yellow card in Sochi
- Toni Kroos snatched victory for Germany right at the death, scoring a fantastic curling free-kick
- RECAP: Click here to take a look back at all the action from Saturday evening's World Cup encounter
For a short time, just over half an hour including the half-time interval, Germany were on their way out of the World Cup.
For a good deal longer they remained in deep, deep trouble, unable to find a winner, teetering on the brink and vulnerable to a carve-up at the hands of Mexico and Sweden, east of the Urals on Wednesday.
They were down to 10 men, running low on ideas and the Swedes were defending as if lives depended on it when Toni Kroos addressed a free-kick, wide on the German left as the clock ticked into the last minute of stoppage time.
Toni Kroos snatched victory right at the death for Germany against Sweden, scoring a fantastic curling free-kick in injury time
With Germany's World Cup hopes in danger, Kroos stepped up right at the death to fire Germany to all three points
Kroos pictured firing home the dramatic late winner for Germany past Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen
28-year-old Olsen watches Kroos' free-kick nestle into his net in injury-time of what was a tense clash
The Real Madrid midfielder is mobbed by his jubilant Germany team-mates after sealing the all-important three points
Mario Gomez shows his elation after Germany sealed the 2-1 victory at the death on Saturday against Sweden
The Germans were a picture of relief after Kroos' winner and now go into their final group game in a strong position
Sebastian Larsson rages as Sweden let in a last-minute goal, which puts them in a precarious position going into the last game
Kroos rolled the ball short to Marco Reus, scorer of the equaliser early in the second half and then whipped a swerving drive through a crowd scene.
It seemed to accelerate as it rose into the far corner like something delivered to order by his Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
As one, Sweden, sank to its knees, exhausted and beaten.
They had been so near to another illustrious scalp having dumped out Holland and Italy in the qualification process.
Germany breathed again and launched into jubilant celebrations.
There is work still to do for Joachim Low's team.
They must beat South Korea in Kazan on Wednesday and even then may have to rely on goal difference.
If Sweden beat Mexico on the same day in Ekaterinburg there will be three teams in Group F locked on six points.
But for the time being, the world champions had conquered their six days of crisis and wrested back some degree of control.
The last time they lost their opening World Cup game, in 1982, they reached the final.
Ominous, isn't it?
It was fitting that Kroos should find the winner after a rare misplaced pass in midfield which exposed his defenders and helped Sweden into the lead.
Marco Reus equalised for the Germans immediately after the restart as he kneed home from close range
Sweden goalkeeper Olsen and his team-mates watch on as Reus' effort nestles into the bottom corner
The Borussia Dortmund man celebrates his goal while the Sweden players display their disappointment in the second half
Reus celebrates with Thomas Muller after equalising for Joachim Low's side in the 47th minute on Saturday evening
The 29-year-old is congratulated by Gomez, who was brought on at half-time for winger Julian Draxler
Marcus Berg seized on the error and found Viktor Claesson who released Ola Toivonen to control the ball and lob it over Manuel Neuer.
'It was down to me, no question,' said Kroos in confession. 'But if you play 400 passes in a game sometimes two will fail and the way we fought to the end we deserved to win.
'You've got to have balls to play like that in the second half.
'Sometime you get the feeling some people in Germany would be happy if we were eliminated but we're not making it that easy for them.'
The world champions had roared out like a team with a point to prove, with full-backs pushed recklessly high and a breathless tempo.
Low's team created chances but failed to score and were vulnerable on the break.
Neuer's fine save from Berg just before half-time was crucial.
Jerome Boateng receives his marching orders in the 81st minute after picking up a second yellow card of the night
Boateng is shown his first yellow card in the 70th minute by referee Szymon Marciniak on Saturday evening
Gomez smashes the ball over the crossbar from close-range but was later ajudged to have been offside
Germany manager Low watches on nervously from the sidelines with his side's World Cup hopes in danger
Mikael Lustig challenges for the ball with Reus and Jonas Hector during the second half at the Fisht Olympic Stadium
Kroos takes a corner in the second half with Germany desperately searching for a winner against Sweden
And, even before Toivonen's goal, the Swedes were denied what seemed to be a clear penalty when Jerome Boateng barged into Berg.
The clumsy challenge looked like a foul at the time and it looked like a foul on the television no matter how much it was slowed down and replayed.
Boateng was desperately trying to recover to exert enough pressure to disturb Berg but he knocked the striker off balance as he prepared to shoot.
The Swedes went berserk when they realised Polish referee Szymon Marciniak was not going to give it.
Germany went forward as 50,000 spectators waited for an intervention from the video assistant referee. But it never came.
'I have not watched it but people on my team who have say this is a clear penalty,' said Sweden boss Janne Andersson. 'If you have this system it is unfortunate that he feels so secure in the situation not to have a look.'
The VAR did step in to ensure Boateng was sent off for a second yellow card in the 82nd minute.
Ola Toivonen opened the scoring for Sweden with a fantastic chip over Manuel Neuer in the 32nd minute
Toivonen watches on in anticipation while Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer desperately runs back to try and clear the ball
The 31-year-old wheels off to celebrate after brilliantly putting Sweden ahead against the reigning world champions
Toivonen celebrates in front of the jubilant Sweden supporters after giving Sweden the advantage on Saturday
Celtic defender Lustig jumps on the goalscorer as Sweden celebrate taking the lead in the World Cup clash
Reus shows off his dejection after Germany went behind during the opening period on the weekend
Sebastian Rudy was forced off in the 31st minute with a head injury after a nasty accident in Sochi
The 28-year-old midfielder was covered in blood following the freak accident during the first half against Sweden
By this point, scores were level thanks to Reus, who turned a bouncing cross from Timo Werner past keeper Robin Olsen with the inside of his left knee.
Germany did not care about the aesthetics. They were clinging onto their title and they went all out for the winner.
Low, having dropped Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, threw on attackers and took off defenders.
Werner skied a good chance and Olsen saved from Gomez. Julian Brandt struck the post with a sweet left-footer from the edge of the penalty area and Werner was unable to turn the rebound on target.
Sweden were exhausted, having chased the ball for the entire second half and Mikael Lustig's weary foul gave Kroos the chance to step forward and steal the glory.
'The most disappointing end to a game I've ever known,' said Andersson, while Germany saluted the spirit of champions.
'We didn't lose our nerve,' said Low. 'We didn't break out in panic. We kept level heads. We needed quick passing, make them tire and the pressure built up. We missed some obvious chances but I appreciate the spirit of the team.'
Sweden felt hard done by in the first half after Marcus Berg was pushed in the back by Boateng in the penalty area
Berg goes down following the pressure of Boateng as Germany goalkeeper Neuer comes out to close him down
Bayern's Muller has his shirt grabbed in the penalty area by Albin Ekdal in the early stages of the fixture
Draxler had a brilliant opportunity to put Germany ahead in the opening few minutes against Sweden
However, Sweden midfielder Larsson brilliantly blocked Draxler's close-range effort near the goalline
Germany fans wave their flags prior to the enthralling World Cup clash in Sochi on the weekend
Sweden supporters show off their colours before kick off at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on Saturday evening
DAILYMAIL
