Ibrahimovic sets up goals as Sweden beat Kosovo

Ibrahimovic scores two goal assists in Sweden’s 3-0 win at Kosovo

Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic tries to control the ball during the World Cup 2022 group B qualifying soccer match between Kosovo and Sweden at the Fadil Vokrri stadium in Pristina, Kosovo. AP

Sweden kept on its winning ways on Sunday as Zlatan Ibrahimovic again contributed with assists, while Spain needed a late goal to salvage its first victory in World Cup qualifying.

Substitute Dani Olmo scored with a long-range shot two minutes into second-half stoppage time as Spain came from behind to beat Georgia 2-1, while Ibrahimovic set up two goals in Sweden’s 3-0 win at Kosovo.

It was the second consecutive win for Sweden, which stayed top of Group B with six points from two matches.

Spain reached four points to stay in second place after an opening 1-1 home draw against Greece.

Ibrahimovic, 39, returning to international soccer after almost five years, knocked the ball down for Ludwig Augustinsson’s opener in the 12th minute on Sunday, then sent a low pass across for Alexander Isak’s second in the 35th.

Ibrahimovic was substituted in the 67th minute, three before Sebastian Larsson’s third goal from a penalty kick after a handball.

Kosovo, in its second World Cup qualifying campaign, had no attempts on target.

Olmo netted Spain’s late winner with a right-footed shot from outside the area, with the ball finding the top corner after Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria could not swat it away hard enough.

“It’s hard to explain my feelings after scoring a goal like this for my national team,” Olmo said. “This is incredible.”

Spain coach Luis Enrique revamped the starting line-up from the game against Greece on Thursday, making six changes to the squad.

He introduced youngsters Bryan Gil, Pedri Gonzalez and Pedro Porro from the start but the team continued to struggle.

Enrique said it was one of the most difficult matches for Spain under his command, and that he expected his team to continue to face problems against less-traditional teams who play defensively.

“I’ll take the suffering if in the end we win it,” he said, adding that he almost had a “heart attack” during the game.

Sergio Ramos, coming off a long injury layoff, also was dropped from the opener, when he played only in the first half.

The hosts opened the scoring with a low shot from inside the area by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 44th minute after the Spain defence failed to contain a nice buildup by the Georgia attack.

Spain improved in the second half and Ferran Torres equalised from close range in the 55th after Jordi Alba’s cross from the left, earning his fifth goal in six starts with the Spanish national team.

Georgia players dropped to the ground in despair when Loria could not stop Olmo’s late strike.

That sealed the team’s defeat in front of a limited crowd that was allowed to watch amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Georgia midfielder Levan Shengelia was sent off after Olmo’s goal for a hard foul on Pedri.

On Wednesday, Spain hosts Kosovo and Georgia visits Greece.