Sweden beat neighbours Denmark 2-1 at home Saturday, in the first leg of a play-off for Euro 2016 that is now evenly poised. Emil Forsberg and Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Sweden a 2-0 lead, then Nicolai Joergensen gave Denmark hope for the second leg by scoring a late away goal. Sweden's recent results against Denmark, five games without a win, have been poor but they dominated the first half against their neighbours. Before the match, there was an emotional moment of silence in honour of the victims of Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris. Forsberg gave Sweden the lead just before half-time by sweeping a low centre from Lustig past Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel and into the bottom corner. Five minutes into the second half in Solna, Sweden were awarded a disputed penalty when Denmark's Thomas Kahlenberg clumsily tripped up the lively Forsberg. Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted the spot-kick to make it 2-0, his first goal against Denmark in seven games. Denmark dominated the final half hour, fully conscious that a 2-0 defeat would leave them with a mountain to climb in the second leg. The visitors battled manfully for a valuable away goal, but were held back by poor finishing from Nicklas Bendtner. However, the Danes received their just reward 11 minutes from time when supersub Nicolai Joergensen made it 2-1 by turning in a centre from Yussuf Poulsen after the weary Swedish defence had failed to clear a corner. It was the very least that Denmark deserved after enjoying 61 per cent possession and creating chance after chance. Two minutes from the end, Joergensen missed a good opportunity to make it 2-2 for Denmark. Even so, Joergensen's goal sets up a ascinating second leg in Copenhagen Tuesday.
