体坛英语新闻：Sweden flabbergasts Germany with a comeback in World Cup qualifier

BERLIN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Sweden neutralized a 4-0 lead by Germany within 30 minutes to flabbergast the host at Berlin Olympia stadium in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.

Germany staged a faultless performance over 60 minutes to score four goals but the Swedish comeback destroyed all hopes of a victory at the last World Cup qualifier match in 2012.

The hosts started furiously into the match as Germany's top scorer Miroslav Klose opened the scoring with eight minutes into the match. Klose netted a diagonals pass by Marco Reus to slot home into the roof of the net.

Germany added a second goal to the lead as the duo Klose and Reus finished a terrific buildup seven minutes later. Marco Reus again had set up for Klose, with two consecutive one-two combinations.

Sweden was unable to hold the pace with fleet-footed Germans who lurked for more goals. Six minutes before break Per Mertesacker tripled the lead for Germany when he utilized a header by Thomas Mueller to volley home from seven meters.

After the break Germany started where they left off as Mesut Oezil marked the fourth goal of the evening.

It looked like a comfortable win and the fourth win at the fourth match for the Germans, but it turned out to be other than expected.

Sweden's superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic introduced the goal spree when his header found the back of the net, against the run of the game at the 62nd minute. Only two minutes later Mikael Lustig reduced Germany's lead to 4-2 following a nutmeg against Manuel Neuer.

The Germans remained absolutely stunned thus Sweden's Johan Elmander slotted home into far corner to make it 4-3 on the scoreboards at the 76th minute.

It came even worse for the "Nationalmannschaft" as Sweden's Rasmus Elm snatched the 4-4 equalizer three minutes into injury time.

"I cannot understand how we shared points today. We staged terrific and dominant soccer over 60 minutes. That will take some explaining how we could gave away a four-goal lead. We are really disappointed," Germany coach Joachim Loew said after the match.

Nonetheless Germany stays on top of the standings with 10 points in Group C, followed by Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Kazakhstan and Faroe Islands.