Sweden flabbergasts Germany with a comeback in World Cup qualifier

Sweden flabbergasts Germany with a comeback in World Cup qualifier

 BERLIN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Sweden neutralized¹ a 4-0 lead by Germany within 30 minutes to flabbergast the host at Berlin Olympia stadium in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.

Germany staged a faultless performance over 60 minutes to score four goals but the Swedish comeback destroyed all hopes of a victory at the last World Cup qualifier match in 2012.

The hosts started furiously into the match as Germany's top scorer Miroslav Klose opened the scoring with eight minutes into the match. Klose netted a diagonals pass by Marco Reus to slot home into the roof of the net.

Germany added a second goal to the lead as the duo Klose and Reus finished a terrific buildup seven minutes later. Marco Reus again had set up for Klose, with two consecutive² one-two combinations.

Sweden was unable to hold the pace with fleet-footed Germans who lurked³ for more goals. Six minutes before break Per Mertesacker tripled the lead for Germany when he utilized⁴ a header by Thomas Mueller to volley home from seven meters.

After the break Germany started where they left off as Mesut Oezil marked the fourth goal of the evening.

It looked like a comfortable win and the fourth win at the fourth match for the Germans, but it turned out to be other than expected.

Sweden's superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic introduced the goal spree when his header found the back of the net, against the run of the game at the 62nd minute. Only two minutes later Mikael Lustig reduced Germany's lead to 4-2 following a nutmeg against Manuel Neuer.

The Germans remained absolutely stunned⁵ thus Sweden's Johan Elmander slotted home into far corner to make it 4-3 on the scoreboards at the 76th minute.

It came even worse for the "Nationalmannschaft" as Sweden's Rasmus Elm snatched the 4-4 equalizer three minutes into injury time.

"I cannot understand how we shared points today. We staged terrific and dominant⁶ soccer over 60 minutes. That will take some explaining how we could gave away a four-goal lead. We are really disappointed," Germany coach Joachim Loew said after the match.

Nonetheless Germany stays on top of the standings with 10 points in Group C, followed by Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Kazakhstan and Faroe Islands.

1 neutralized   

v.使失效( neutralize的过去式和过去分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化

参考例句：

• Acidity in soil can be neutralized by spreading lime on it. 土壤的酸性可以通过在它上面撒石灰来中和。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This strategy effectively neutralized what the Conservatives had hoped would be a vote-winner. 这一策略有效地冲淡了保守党希望在选举中获胜的心态。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

3 lurked   

vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The murderers lurked behind the trees. 谋杀者埋伏在树后。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Treachery lurked behind his smooth manners. 他圆滑姿态的后面潜伏着奸计。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 utilized   

v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• In the19th century waterpower was widely utilized to generate electricity. 在19世纪人们大规模使用水力来发电。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The empty building can be utilized for city storage. 可以利用那栋空建筑物作城市的仓库。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

6 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。