Alexander Isak marked his FIFA World Cup debut in style with a goal and two assists as Sweden cruised to a commanding victory over Tunisia in their Group F opener in Monterrey.
The Liverpool forward, who has battled injury setbacks since completing a £125 million move to Anfield in September, showcased his quality with a clinical finish on the half-hour mark. After surging in from the left flank, Isak fired a powerful shot into the bottom corner to double Sweden’s lead.
The goal came following excellent link-up play with strike partner Viktor Gyokeres, who held off his marker near the halfway line before releasing Isak into space.
Sweden had taken an early lead in the seventh minute through Yasin Ayari, whose stunning strike flew into the top corner after Tunisia failed to clear their lines.
The 22-year-old Brighton midfielder, making his World Cup debut, chose not to celebrate after scoring against the country of his father’s birth. The goal also made him Sweden’s youngest World Cup scorer since Tomas Brolin in 1990.
Tunisia reduced the deficit two minutes before half-time when defender Omar Rekik rose highest to head home Hannibal Mejbri’s well-delivered free-kick.
However, Sweden quickly reasserted their dominance after the break. Isak turned provider on two occasions, first setting up Gyokeres just after the hour mark before creating another goal for substitute Mattias Svanberg 24 minutes later.
Svanberg’s strike came just 12 seconds after entering the pitch, making it the fastest goal ever scored by a substitute in FIFA World Cup history. Ayari completed the rout with his second spectacular long-range effort of the match, capping a five-star Swedish performance and sending Graham Potter’s side to the top of Group F.
