Sweden 1-1 Slovenia Player Ratings: Dramatic Ending See Both Teams Share Points in WC Qualifier

Sweden rescued a late point in a tense 1–1 draw with Slovenia at the Strawberry Arena. The WC Qualification Europe match swung back and forth and often felt like two different games in one. Slovenia showed impressive discipline throughout and almost walked away with all three points.

Sweden pushed hard early on, but Slovenia’s defence held firm. The visitors were comfortable letting Sweden keep the ball as long as it did not threaten them. Their plan paid off just after the hour mark when Timi Max Elsnik scored against the run of play. For a while, it looked like Sweden were heading for a disappointing home defeat.

But the hosts refused to fold. Backed by a loud and restless crowd, Sweden pushed forward with urgency in the final minutes. Their pressure finally told in the 87th minute, when Gustav Lundgren smashed in a brilliant equaliser. It was a moment of quality that saved Sweden and, in the end, a draw felt fair for both sides.

Here are Sportsdunia’s Sweden vs Slovenia Player Ratings from the WC Qualifier:

Sweden Player Ratings vs Slovenia

Check out Sweden Player Ratings from Sweden vs Slovenia game:

Goalkeeper

Jacob Widell Zetterström - 6.5: He couldn't have done much about the goal, it was a close-range scramble. Made a smart save in the first half to deny a shot heading for the top corner. His distribution was a bit shaky, a few long balls went astray which put his team under unnecessary pressure. Overall a quiet but decent enough performance.

Defenders

Victor Lindelöf - 6.5: The captain was a calming presence at the back before his unfortunate injury. He was comfortable on the ball, completing 89 of his 98 passes. We noticed his positioning was excellent, cutting out several through balls. Sweden definitely missed his leadership after he was subbed off late in the game. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Daniel Svensson - 7.5: What a shift from the full-back. He was a bundle of energy down the left, defending resolutely and always looking to join the attack. Created a couple of key chances, including a great cross for a header that was saved. He won most of his duels and seemed to thrive in the physical battle.

Carl Starfelt - 5.5: A performance to forget for the centre-back. An error from him directly led to a clear Slovenian chance, which was a heart-in-mouth moment. He did make some important blocks and clearances, but he also missed a golden opportunity with a header from a corner. He just looked a bit off the pace to us.

Emil Krafth - 6.0: A typically solid 66 minutes from the right-back. He was defensively sound, making four blocks and a couple of interceptions. However, he offered very little going forward and was eventually substituted as Sweden chased the game. Did his job without any fuss but lacked that attacking spark.

Midfielders

Gustav Lundgren - 8.0: Sweden's hero on the night and our pick for their best player. He was a livewire throughout the match, constantly driving forward. His hard work was rewarded with a brilliant left-footed strike for the equalizer. He never stopped running and his determination was infectious. A top-class performance that saved his team.

Ken Sema - 5.5: His evening was cruelly cut short by an injury in the first half. He looked bright and energetic in his 38 minutes on the pitch. It was a real shame as he seemed ready to cause problems down the wing. Impossible to give a higher rating given the limited time.

Mattias Svanberg - 7.0: A very busy and effective performance in the engine room. He covered a lot of ground, won his tackles, and was a disruptive force. He tried to get forward and had a couple of shots, though his finishing was wayward. He was a key part of Sweden's midfield battle.

B. Zeneli - 6.0: A frustrating game for the midfielder. He picked up a cheap yellow card early on and it seemed to hold him back. While he was tidy in possession with a 91% pass accuracy, he offered very little creativity in the final third. From our perspective, he played it too safe for much of the game.

Forwards

Roony Bardghji - 6.0: We saw flashes of his immense talent, but he struggled to get into the game consistently. He completed a couple of dribbles but was often crowded out by a well-organized Slovenian defence. The game seemed to pass him by for long spells before he was substituted.

Isac Lidberg - 6.0: It was a thankless task for the striker. He was isolated for large periods and had to feed on scraps. He fought hard, won a few aerial duels, and had one powerful header well-saved by the keeper. His effort was there, but the service to him was lacking.

Substitutes

Emil Forsberg - 6.5: Came on for the injured Sema and immediately tried to inject some creativity. His set-piece delivery was a real threat, creating a great chance that Starfelt should have buried. A decent cameo.

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 6.0: Added some fresh legs but didn't make a huge impact on the game.

Alexander Bernhardsson - 6.0: Had a shot blocked soon after his introduction but faded out of the action.

Gustaf Lagerbielke - N/A: Came on late for Lindelöf and didn't have enough time to influence the match.

Manager

G. Potter - 6.5: His team lacked a cutting edge for most of the game, looking predictable in attack. The substitutions didn't drastically change the flow, but his side showed great character to fight back for a draw. He'll know they need to be more clinical going forward.

Slovenia Player Ratings vs Sweden

Check out Slovenia Player Ratings from Sweden vs Slovenia World Cup qualifier:

Goalkeeper

Igor Vekic - 6.5: He had one crucial save to make from Lidberg's header and he did it well. There was absolutely nothing he could do about Lundgren's pinpoint equalizer. A reliable performance between the sticks, though he wasn't tested as much as he might have expected.

Defenders

Zan Karnicnik - 6.0: An adventurous performance, but one that lacked quality. He got into shooting positions multiple times but failed to hit the target. He was booked for a clumsy challenge and looked vulnerable defensively at times. A mixed bag of a performance.

Jure Balkovec - 7.0: A really solid and composed display. He read the game beautifully, making key interceptions and winning his duels. He was comfortable on the ball and didn't seem flustered under pressure. A very strong showing from the left-back.

Jaka Bijol - 8.5: An absolute colossus. This was one of the best defensive performances we've seen in a long time. He was a magnet to the ball, making six clearances and blocking three shots. His reading of the game was immense, and he led the backline with authority. Truly the Man of the Match.

Vanja Drkusic - 7.0: The perfect partner for Bijol. He was incredibly efficient, winning all his tackles and boasting a 97% pass completion rate. He was calm, collected, and didn't put a foot wrong all game. An excellent, understated performance.

Erik Janza - 6.5: He worked his socks off down the left flank. He was defensively diligent but his final ball was consistently poor, with only one of his seven crosses finding a teammate. You can't fault his effort, but the lack of quality was frustrating to watch.

Midfielders

Timi Max Elsnik - 7.5: The goalscorer. He was in the right place at the right time, showing a real poacher's instinct. Beyond his goal, he worked tirelessly in midfield, breaking up play and supporting attacks. A very impressive and energetic display before being subbed off.

Svit Seslar - 6.0: A neat and tidy performance without being spectacular. He kept possession well but struggled to make a real impact in an attacking sense. A solid, if quiet, hour of football for the midfielder.

Danijel Sturm - 6.0: He found some promising positions but his final action often let him down. He was caught offside twice, which killed promising attacks. A frustrating night for him as he couldn't quite make things happen.

Adam Gnezda Cerin - 6.5: The metronome in Slovenia's midfield. He kept the ball moving with simple, accurate passes. He did his defensive duties well but snatched at a couple of shooting chances from distance. A steady presence in the middle.

Forwards

Andraz Sporar - 7.0: He may not have scored, but he was Slovenia's main creative outlet. He created four chances for his teammates, a testament to his vision and link-up play. He worked hard to hold up the ball and bring others into the game. A very intelligent performance.

Substitutes

Tomi Horvat - 6.5: Looked bright and confident when he came on, adding some fresh impetus to Slovenia's midfield.

Dejan Petrovic - N/A: A late sub to help see out the game.

Jan Mlakar - N/A: Not on long enough to be rated.

Jon Gorenc Stankovic - N/A: A stoppage-time substitution.

Manager

M. Kek - 7.0: His game plan was nearly perfect. He set his team up to be incredibly difficult to break down, and they frustrated Sweden for 87 minutes. They were organized, disciplined, and clinical on the break. He will be gutted to concede so late, but an away point is a great result.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Jaka Bijol.