Sweden 1 N Ireland 1Kyle Lafferty kept alive Northern Ireland's slim hopes of qualifying from Group F for Euro 2008 with a goal of the highest quality. The Burnley striker spoiled Sweden's hopes of securing a place in the finals by grabbing a superb equaliser in Stockholm last night. He took advantage when Petter Hansson slipped in the 72nd minute and got away from Olof Mellberg, before whipping a shot into the corner of the net.
However, he is ruled out of his country's next match against Denmark, after picking up two yellow cards. Northern Ireland need to beat the Danes next month and their final qualifier against Spain to have any chance of completing a remarkable fairytale.
The hosts took the lead in the 15th minute when Mellberg opened the scoring with a volley after a flick-on from Kim Kallstrom. It came after Lafferty was punished for a challenge on Erik Hedman, and Tobias Linderoth swung in the free-kick.
Northern Ireland almost equalised two minutes later when David Healy rattled in a free-kick only for Andreas Isaksson to prevent him scoring his 13th goal of the campaign.
Northern Ireland were grateful to goalkeeper Maik Taylor for preventing a second goal in the 28th minute. He made a superb block as Zlatan Ibrahimovic rattled in a shot from close range.
Northern Ireland were refusing to lie down, and Healy's overhead kick in the 31st minute narrowly cleared the bar after he had been set up by Lafferty. However, a mistake by Gareth McAuley in the 36th minute almost proved costly.
The Leicester captain mis-directed a pass to Ibrahimovic, and the striker set up Johan Elmander - who seemed surprised at finding an opening and clipped his effort wide of the post.
The last thing Northern Ireland needed was to be handing gifts to the home side, who have become notoriously difficult opponents over the years. Healy was putting in a hard shift - but after scoring twice against the hosts earlier in the campaign, the Fulham striker was closely marked.
Northern Ireland almost drew level in the 60th minute when Chris Brunt's 25-yard effort went narrowly over the top, following a short free kick from Sammy Clingan.
Given they were behind and heading for a third straight defeat, Northern Ireland were still playing with confidence.
Healy tested Isaksson in the 63rd minute, the Manchester City goalkeeper getting down quickly to smother his effort in a front of a crowd of 33,112.
Sweden almost regained the lead in the 84th minute, Kallstrom's sweetly struck free-kick hitting the outside of the post - and Ibrahimovic should have scored the winner on the stroke of full-time but sent a free header wide of the post.
In the same group Denmark beat Latvia 3-1 in a dour match in Copenhagen that preserved their slim chances of progressing.
SWEDEN:Isaksson, Concha, Mellberg, Hansson, Edman, Linderoth, Svensson, Wilhelmsson (Nilsson 45), Kallstrom (Johansson 85), Ibrahimovic, Elmander (Allback 73). Subs Not Used:Shaaban, Majstorovic, Rosenberg, Ljungberg. Booked:Concha, Hansson. Goals:Mellberg 15.
NORTHERN IRELAND:Taylor, McAuley, Hughes, McCartney (Capaldi 87), Craigan, Davis, Clingan, Brunt, Healy, Sproule, Lafferty. Subs Not Used:Mannus, McCann, Webb, Jones, Robinson, Hamilton. Booked:Lafferty. Goals:Lafferty 72. Att: 33,112
Referee: Bertrand Layec(France).
Greece qualify
European champions Greece qualified for next year's tournament with a 1-0 away win over Turkey courtesy of a 79th-minute goal from Ioannis Amanatidis. Striker Amanatidis fired past goalkeeper Volkan Demirel after Georgios Samaras put him through clear on goal.
The win lifted Greece to 25 points in Group C, seven clear of Turkey with two games remaining. Norway are also in contention in the group.
