Northern Ireland were back in international action this evening. And it was another acid test for Michael O'Neill's side.
On Friday night that claimed a deserved 1-1 draw with Switzerland at Windsor Park. Next up it was Sweden at the Strawberry Arena in Solna on the outskirts of Stockholm.
The Swedes had been on a bit of a roll until they were halted in their tracks by Luxembourg on Saturday. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side fell to a 1-0 defeat in a friendly clash.
Northern Ireland play Luxembourg in the World Cup qualifiers, with their group kicking off in September. They will also face Germany and Slovakia in Group A.
Sweden offered a solid test as O'Neill prepares for those qualifiers, and so it proved on the night.
Alexander Isak starred for the hosts as they claimed an impressive 5-1 win.
He scored Sweden's fourth goal on the night, after Emil Holm, Benjamin Nygren and Ken Sema had all netted for the hosts.
Anthony Elanga came off the bench to add the fifth before Isaac Price bagged a late consolation for Northern Ireland.
Team news
- Sweden: Johansson, Lindelof, Hien, Gudmundsson, Holm, Ayari, Jonsson Saletros, Nanasi, Sema, Nygren, Isak.
- Subs: Dahl, Dovin, Ekdal, Elanga, Eliasson, Karlstrom, Lagerbielke, Nilsson, Olsen, Starfelt, Widell, Zeneli.
- NI: P Charles, McNair, McConville, Brown, Devlin, Saville, S Charles, Spencer, Devenny, Price and Donley.
- Subs: Hazard, Southwood, Balmer, Donnelly, Lyons, Thompson, McCausland, Smyth, Marshall, Hale, Bonis, Taylor.
Check out our updates from the game below...
Key Events
FT | Sweden 5-1 N Ireland
All over at the Strawberry Arena.
Tough night for Northern Ireland but a good learning curve for Michael O'Neill's young players.
Was always going to be an acid test, and so it proved.
Alexander Isak starred for the hosts who claim a handsome win.
Into added time
There will be two minutes of injury time, and we are already into the second of those minutes.
GOAL!! Sweden 5-1 N Ireland
Northern Ireland grab a late consolation in the 90th minute.
Isaac Price with the shot that takes a huge deflection and flies into the net.
That's his eighth internartional goal, behind the likes of George Best, Norman. Whiteside and Gareth McAuley.
He has also scored in three consecutive games for Northern Ireland, and six in his last five games.
Off the bar
Lovely curling attempt from Besfort Zeneli that rattles the woodwork.
Pierce Charles was well beaten.
Better from NI
The ball is worked right to Paul Smyth, he sends in a teasing near-post cross and Callum Marshall gets across his man but can only deflect the ball wide of the target.
NI subs
Paul Smyth, Lee Bonis and Brad Lyons on for Brodie Spencer, Jamie Donley and Justin Devenny in the 78th minute.
GOAL!! Sweden 5-0 N Ireland
Anthony Elanga scores Sweden's fifth goal shortly after coming on.
Lovely cross from the right and Elanga ghosted into the back post to finish off.
Simple finish, he wasn't picked up at all.
Chance
Jamie Donley with a first-time volley that had the Swedish goalkeeper back-tracking.
Johansson was caught out of position.
HI subs
Callum Marshall and Jordan Thompson on for George Saville and Terry Devlin in the 68th minute.
GOAL!! Sweden 4-0 N Ireland
Had to happen.
Alexander Isak with a thunderbolt in the 64th minute.
The Newcastle United striker picked up possession about 25 yards out, took a touch forward and then unleashed a right-foot shot that arrowed straight into the corner of the net.
Power and accuracy.
Superb.
It did come from a poor Northern Ireland pass though which will be disappointing for Michael O'Neill.
More players warming up
Five different NI players do their shuttle runs.
Previously it was the attacking players out warming up, now it's the midfielders and defenders.
Interesting to see how Michael O'Neill approaches the final half-hour in Stockholm.
GOAL!! Sweden 3-0 N Ireland
Now 3-0.
Ken Sema with a clinical finish in the 59th minute. Came after Benjamin Nygren's initial effort rebounded off the post.
Great finish from Sema.
Changes incoming
Northern Ireland are about to switch things up.
Several substitutes warming up on the sidelines.
Price in the wars
Isaac Price has taken a couple of heavy challenges tonight, including one just now from Victor Lindelof.
The Manchester United defender clattered into the back of Price who tumbled to the turf.
Good chance wasted
Northern Ireland have a free-kick on the left side of the box.
Shea Charles goes for goal instead of swinging a cross in, but his attempt is well off target.
NI on the attack
Jamie Donley plays in Shea Charles on the right but his cross is behind Isaac Price.
Smart save
Pierce Charles does well to deny Benjamin Nygren a second goal, the NI keeper stretching to his left to palm the Swedish forward's shot away.
Alexander Isak latches onto the rebound but fires his shot into the side netting.
HT | Sweden 2-0 N Ireland
We reach the break at the Strawberry Arena.
Sweden lead 2-0 but Northern Ireland had chances, and they grew into the game as the half progressed.
Shea Charles and Ruairi McConville had the two best chances for the visitors.
Another BIG chance!
Huge chance for Ruairi McConville.
Short corner led to Shea Charles crossing to the back post, McConville was free but he headed it into the ground and it bounced over the bar.
More NI pressure
Shea Charles with a shot that is deflected wide. Could have gone anywhere.
The shot arrived after more good play from the visitors.
Great strike
George Saville with a 25-yard strike which Johansson tips over the bar.
So close to his first goal for Northern Ireland.
May actually have glanced the crossbar.
Could be 2-1
Massive chance for Northern Ireland.
Came from a poor pass from the Swedish goalkeeper, but Shea Charles' shot was low and Johansson made the save.
Any higher and it could have been 2-1.
Dangerous free-kick
Northern Ireland have good opportunity after Shea Charles is fouled on the right side of the Swedish box.
George Saville sends in an inswinging left-foot cross that Sweden clear.
Was a decent ball in.
GOAL!! Sweden 2-0 N Ireland
Sweden double their lead in the 33rd minute.
Low cross from the left from Gabriel Gudmundsson which Pierce Charles could only palm straight to the feet of Benjamin Nygren who had the simple job of tapping into an empty net.
What a ball
Pierce Charles sends a direct ball down the middle and almost lands to the feet of his brother Shea who made the run past the Swedish defence.
Goalkeeper Johansson raced off his line to head clear.
Off target
Poor ball from Isaac Price offers Saletros a shooting opportunity but he sends his shot high and wide.
