Granqvist's VAR penalty gives Sweden 1-0 win over South Korea
Skipper Andreas Granqvist coolly converted a 65th minute penalty awarded after video review to hand Sweden a 1-0 victory over South Korea in a scrappy Group F encounter at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Monday.
A match both sides were desperate to win after Mexico stunned Germany in the group opener was decided when Viktor Claesson went down from a challenge by Kim Min-woo with referee Joel Aguilar pointing to the spot after checking the footage.
Swedish striker Marcus Berg had the best opportunity to break the deadlock from open play but side-footed the ball into the knee of South Korea goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo from point blank range in the 21st minute.
Cho, a surprise selection between the posts, will take credit for that reflex save, and another early in the second half that denied Ola Toivonen, but was sent the wrong way by Granqvist's penalty.
FIFA WCUP: Lukaku scores twice as Belgium thrash Panama 3-0
Romelu Lukaku netted two goals as Belgium thrashed World Cup debutants Panama 3-0 in the Group G match here on Monday.The Manchester United striker made it 3-0 in the 75th, latching on to a through pass from Hazard and chipping over Penedo.
Belgium were unable to find the breakthrough in the first-half, as the World Cup debutants sat deep and frustrated the Red Devils' forward line.Dries Mertens opened the scoring with a brilliant first-time volley, however it was the scoring exploits of Lukaku which really stole the show for United fans.
Lukaku headed in from a brilliant Kevin de Bruyne cross before completing his brace with a cool lofted finish midway though the second-half.Hazard laid the ball off to Kevin De Bruyne who flipped a diagonal ball with the outside of his foot through for a lurking Lukaku to head home in the 69th minute.
FIFA World Cup: England beats Tunisia by 2-1
Volgograd Arena: With the two goals from skipper Harry Kane, England defeated Tunisia by 2-1 in their opening World Cup group match on Monday.
Kane scored first goal for England at the 11th minuted of the game. However, a 35th minute Ferjani Sassi penalty equaled the score.In the second half of the game, England struggled to break down the defense of Tunisia.
But from a Kieran Trippier corner, a glancing header from Harry Maguire found Kane at the back post and he cleverly nodded home to give England a winning start.(UNI)