Gyökeres, Nygren and Ayari on target as Sweden beat Poland 3-0

Three different scorers carried Sweden to a 3-1 win over Poland in UEFA Nations League League B, Group 4, Round 2 at Strawberry Arena in Solna, with Benjamin Nygren, Yasin Ayari and Viktor Gyökeres each on the scoresheet.

The hosts struck first, saw Poland level before half-time, then finished the job with two well-crafted second-half goals. On the balance of chances, Graham Potter's side earned it, creating the better shots even while attempting fewer of them, and the xG split read 2.15 to 0.91 in their favour.

Nygren's early header sets the tone

Sweden started sharp and aggressive, and were ahead inside eight minutes.

Victor Lindelöf attacked a second ball from a corner and nodded it back into the danger zone, where Nygren headed home for 1-0. It was the clearest chance of the opening exchanges, and it set the platform for everything that followed.

Poland level through Szymański before the interval

Poland rallied and gradually pressed higher, and their equaliser on 43 minutes was well assembled. Nicola Zalewski progressed play down the left and served a precise assist for Sebastian Szymański, who finished with his left foot from close range.

That made it 1-1 at half-time despite Sweden having produced the better early opportunity.

Ayari restores the lead with a finish from the edge

The second half swung decisively Sweden's way, and it was their second scorer who turned the game.

On 63 minutes, substitute Sebastian Nanasi's set-piece delivery was recycled to the edge of the box, where Ayari struck a right-footer that found the low right corner for 2-1. It came at a crucial point, with the match still in the balance, and Nanasi had arrived at 63 minutes to assist it straight away.

Gyökeres buries the move of the night

Nine minutes later, Sweden's third sealed it.

A tidy build-up via Lucas Bergvall, Ayari, Lindelöf and Carl Starfelt released Patrik Wålemark down the right, and his measured cross was buried at the back post by Gyökeres to make it 3-1. The striker worked relentlessly throughout and posted 0.93 xG from his chances.

Poland threw on fresh legs late on, including Robert Lewandowski, who clipped the woodwork, but the hosts saw it out.

Ayari's all-action display earns MVP honours

Ayari controlled rhythm and broke lines all evening. He completed 68 of 74 passes, split evenly across both halves of the pitch, and hit four of six long balls, finishing with 86 touches and 18 ball carries.

He won both of his tackles, made six recoveries and cleared three dangerous balls from the edge, and added one key pass and two shots on target alongside his goal. The Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder, 22, ended with a Sofascore Rating of 8.5, best among the hosts and matching the top mark overall.

The supporting cast behind the goals

Lindelöf delivered a captain's shift, completing 75 of 82 passes, creating a big chance, assisting Nygren's opener and leading the defence with nine clearances plus an interception for a Sofascore Rating of 8.1. Starfelt went 49 of 52 in passing and chipped in five clearances.

Wålemark brought thrust on the right with the assist for Gyökeres, two shots on target and four dribbles won, earning a Sofascore Rating of 8.0. In goal, Viktor Johansson made six saves with 0.57 goals prevented, adding real value when Poland surged before half-time.

Discipline tilted Poland's way with three yellows to Sweden's one, Daniel Svensson's early booking the only Swedish caution.

The numbers behind the 3-1

Poland actually out-shot Sweden 18 to 12 and edged shots on target 7 to 6, yet Sweden's chances were far better: 2.15 xG to 0.91, and 2.91 xG on target to 1.57. After the break it was 1.11 xG to 0.08, with big chances finishing 4-1 to Sweden and big chances scored 2-1 in the hosts' favour.

Possession was balanced but slightly Swedish at 53 to 47, and passing totals were close at 520 to 459, with final third entries near level at 60 to 58. Corner output was even at 4-4, yet Sweden turned their dead balls into a goal and another top-quality look.

Poland led the duel share 52 to 48, logged more tackles 16 to 9 and completed far more interceptions 11 to 3, with a dribble success rate of 71 per cent, but the final ball and shot selection rarely hit premium zones. Despite 32 touches in Sweden's box, their post-break xG slumped to 0.08, Piotr Zieliński fired six shots without converting, and their cross accuracy sat at 17 per cent with nothing from four corners.

Szymański was lively for the visitors, scoring their goal and attempting three shots for a Sofascore Rating of 8.1, while Zalewski was Poland's best by the model with three key passes, eight recoveries, one assist and a team-high 0.64 expected assists, also on 8.5. Lewandowski entered on 88 minutes, hit the woodwork and received a late booking for dissent, but arrived too late to change the outcome.

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