Ukraine, Sweden victorious in Euro playoff

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) scores a penalty (Getty)

European football paid tribute to the victims of attacks in Euro 2016 hosts France during qualifying play-offs which saw Sweden edge Denmark 2-1 and Ukraine beat Slovenia 2-0 in first-leg ties.

A minute's silence was observed before the games for victims of the Paris attacks on Friday, one of which was outside the Stade de France where world champions Germany were playing a friendly against France.

In Solna, Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his ninth goal in as many qualifiers as Sweden took a slight advantage over 1992 champions Denmark.

Ibrahimovic converted a second half penalty after Emil Forsberg had scored his first international goal on the stroke of half-time.

But substitute Nicolai Jorgensen grabbed an away-goal lifeline for Denmark 10 minutes from time ahead of the second leg in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

Earlier Ukraine took a comfortable 2-0 lead over Slovenia in Lviv as Andrei Yarmolenko and Yevhen Seleznyov scored in either half of a bad tempered clash at the packed 65,000-seat Lviv Arena.

Ukraine, who have lost all five of their previous qualifying play-offs for major tournaments, dominated early but Samir Handanovic proved solid in the Slovenian goal in the opening 20 minutes.

However, in the 22nd minute Yarmolenko picked up a rebound after Handanovic failed to clear Yevhen Konoplyanka's cross, and slotted inside the far post with a low shot.

Slovenia poured into attack and midfielder Josip Ilicic missed a clear chance to level after 27 minutes.

After the break, Ukraine continued to press forward and in the 54th minute Seleznyov got the second with a close range shot off an Artem Fedetskiy cross.

AFP

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