ENITAN OBADINA / AIPS* in AL-AIN: Debutants Sweden continued their Cinderella run at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 when they came from behind to beat Honduras 2-1 in their quarter final at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al-Ain.

Two goals in the last 22 minutes from Erdal Taktip and Valmir Berisha turned the match around for a Swedish tdeam who had been 1-0 down at half-time.

Sweden took early charge of the game but Honduras, against the run of play, changed the momentum with a goal in the 37^th minute.

Brayan Valasquez received a pass in a counter attack and turned Johan Ramhon inside out before sliding his shot over keeper Sixten Mohlin.

Sweden came out more determined in the second half but had to wait until the 68^th minute to find a way through Honduras’s defence.

Erdal Raktip ran onto a fancy look-away pass from Gentrit Citaku to poke the ball underneath Honduras keeper Christian Hernandez.

Exquisite backheel

The goal spurred the Swedes on and Valmir Berisha scored his fourth of the competition in the 74^th minute with an exquisite back-heel off a low cross from Anton Salestros.

Honduras pressed hard in vain for an equaliser in the dying minutes and the Swedish players could thus celebrate becoming the first team to claim a spot in the semi-finals.

The disappointment was too much for Honduras’ Jose Fallios who was shown a red card at the final whistle for kicking the ball at the Swedish team.

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* AIPS, the international sports journalists association, is running a Young Reporters course at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 with the support of the local organising committee and FIFA

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