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Sweden stay perfect with Spain win
SOLNA, Oct 7 (SW) - Sweden opened up a five-point lead at the top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group F after a victory over a reeling Spain side while Denmark were held by Northern Ireland and Latvia crushed Iceland.
<b>Sweden - Spain</b> 2-0
Sweden took the lead after 10 minutes when Johan Elmander fired a low strike beyond Iker Casillas, but David Villa nearly equalized in the 21st minute only to see Rami Shaaban make a fine save.
Just before the interval, Spain had another chance to make it 1-1, but Sergio Ramos' header off of a Xavi free kick flew just off-target and Miguel Angulo also missed agonizingly wide early in the second half.
After David Villa fired a shot right at Shaaban in the 74th minute, Sweden finally put the game out of reach with 10 minutes to go as Marcus Allbäck fired past Casillas on the break.
<b>Denmark - Northern Ireland</b> 0-0
Coming off of a famous home win over Spain, Northern Ireland recorded another positive result with a scoreless draw at the Parken Stadion in Copenhagen.
The Danes nearly went in front in the 16th minute as Jon Dahl Tomasson flicked a header wide of Maik Taylor's goal, and Peter Løvenkrands just missed turning a Daniel Agger free kick in.
Denmark and Aston Villa were hit with a blow as goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen went out injured in the 68th minute, although it was Taylor who had to make a great save when Christian Poulsen tested him from deep.
Late on, a shot by Agger grazed the crossbar to complete a good defensive performance by Lawrie Sanchez's Northern Ireland side.
<b>Latvia - Iceland</b> 4-0
Ever since their opening victory at Northern Ireland, Iceland have been reeling and they were handed a huge defeat away to Latvia on Saturday.
Girts Karlsons opened the scoring for the home side in the 14th minute by converting Oskars Klava's cross, and Maris Verpakovskis doubled the lead less than a minute later after Genadijs Solonicins' service.
Solonicins created the third goal as well in the 25th minute as his corner found Verpakovksis in the area, and Aleksejs Visnakovs completed the rout in the 52nd minute just moments after coming on as a substitute.
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