Soccer: England and Sweden advance with draw

COLOGNE - England drew 2-2 with Sweden today to earn a second round soccer World Cup clash with Ecuador while the Swedes go through to face hosts Germany.

England, who lost striker Michael Owen to a knee injury after just two minutes, took the lead with a stunning 34th minute volley by Joe Cole from over 30 metres.

Sweden levelled with a Marcus Allback header in the 51st minute and were unlucky not to knock England off the top of Group B after creating a string of chances.

Steven Gerrard put England back in front with a header from a Cole cross four minutes from time, but Henrik Larsson brought the scores level again after a long throw deceived the defence.

England were rattled by the sight of Owen leaving on a stretcher and struggled to keep possession for the opening 20 minutes against a combative Sweden side, who have not lost to them in 12 matches stretching back 38 years.

"We did well in the first half but then Sweden did better in the second half and they scored from two set pieces," said England's Swedish coach Sven-Goran Erikssson.

"Of course, we have to do better because we cannot concede goals like that."

Substitute Gerrard added: "The most important thing today was to top the group. We wanted to keep the same tempo in the second half. From the bench it looked really difficult because they were pushing for the goal."

Sweden midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg agreed that it was a tough match. "It was quite a tight game.

"They (England) must be very disappointed. It will be great to play Germany."

Ljungberg was a threatening presence while defender Teddy Lucic sent in a superb angled drive from a corner that was charged down by Frank Lampard.

Wayne Rooney, in his first World Cup start after a substitutes' appearance in last week's 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago, helped redress the balance with some nice passes and a shot that ricocheted off Lucic.

It was nothing compared to the subsequent candidate for one of the goals of the tournament.

Cole controlled a headed clearance by Niclas Alexandersson with his chest and struck a long-range shot that keeper Andreas Isaksson could only touch on to the inside of his post as it flew in.

However, the sense of euphoria among England fans and the team's clean sheets at these finals lasted only six minutes after the break.

Tobias Linderoth curled over a corner from the right and Allback's glancing header beat keeper Paul Robinson and Ashley Cole on the line.

Sweden were nearly 2-1 up minutes later when Ljungberg's header was parried on to the underside of the bar by Robinson in a goalmouth melee.

Eriksson replaced Rio Ferdinand with Sol Campbell in central defence but the next chance fell to Sweden when captain Olof Mellberg hit the top of the bar.

Sweden had a nervous England side on the ropes and were clearly looking to deliver the knockout blow, prompting Eriksson to swap Rooney for Gerrard.

Gerrard promptly cleared off the line with his first touch after a Kim Kallstrom effort and then put England ahead in the 85th minute with a firm header from a far post Cole cross.

But the drama was not over as Larsson got the final touch on a long throw by Erik Edman in the 90th to salvage a draw and Sweden's unbeaten run against England stretching back to 1968.

Sweden 2 (Marcus Allback 51, Henrik Larsson 90)
England 2 (Joe Cole 34, Steven Gerrard 85)

- REUTERS