Republic of Ireland and Sweden ended their game in a 1-1 draw in Saint-Denis on Monday evening in the first Group E game of Euro 2016.
Wesley Hoolahan struck in the 48th minute but teammate Ciaran Clark inadvertently handed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his teammates a reprieve with an own goal in the second half.
Republic of Ireland had the first shot on goal of the match in the ninth minute.
Jeff Hendrick made a yard for himself and produced a mid-range rocket of a shot, aimed to the left side of the goal. Unfortunately for him, Andreas Isaksson pulls off a fantastic save to deny his effort.
Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady had further chances to score in the first half but the crossbar came to the rescue of Sweden on both occasions, Hendrick’s long range effort would have been a contender for goal of the tournament if it had gone in.
Ireland were rewarded for their dominance when Wesley Hoolahan showed good awareness inside the box and latched on to a brilliant pass from Seamus Coleman. He took a first-time shot which went inside the right post.
Sweden equalised in the 71st minute of the match when an unlucky Ciaran Clark tried to avert a cross inside the six-yard box, sending the ball behind his keeper’s back with a poor header.
