Analysis The numbers behind the result
Sweden's possession dominance edges tight contest
Sweden's 2-1 victory was justified by their control of possession (60%) and superior chance creation, outshooting Romania 11-10 despite only a marginal advantage in shots on target (4-1). The hosts' higher volume of passes (587 vs 391) and better ball retention translated into two first-half goals - Alexander Isak's 20th-minute opener (assisted by Yasin Ayari) and Viktor Gyökeres' 43rd-minute strike - proving decisive despite Dennis Man's 29th-minute equaliser for Romania.
Notably, Sweden's wider spread of threats (5 shots inside the box vs Romania's 4) and greater set-piece opportunities (3 corners to Romania's 0) underpinned their territorial advantage. Romania's defensive struggles were reflected in their five yellow cards, though their solitary shot on goal suggests Sweden's keeper had a quiet night. The key differential was Sweden's ability to convert pressure into clear chances - their 4 blocked shots (vs Romania's 1) indicates more penetrative attempts despite similar total shot volumes.