Sweden Beats Moldova 4-1 In Euro 2012 Qualifier

Chisinau, Moldova, June 4: Sweden swept past Moldova 4-1 on Friday to tighten its grip on second place in its Euro 2012 qualifying group.

Ola Toivonen opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a 25-yard shot before Johan Elmander made it 2-0 in the 29th with a left-footed strike and Sebastian Larsson added the third in the 59th.

Striker Igor Bugaiov gave Moldova a glimmer of hope by making it 3-1 in the 61st but Alexander Gerndt wrapped up a comfortable win for the visitors in the 87th.

Moldova could have taken the lead in the sixth minute but Alexandru Suvorov's 18-yard shot hit the crossbar.

Sweden has 12 points from five games, three points ahead of third-place Hungary, which has played a game more. Netherlands lead the group with 18 points.

Lineups:

Moldova: Stanislav Namasco, Igor Armas, Victor Golovatenco, Vadim Bolohan, Alexandru Suvorov, Alexandru Gatcan, Petru Racu, Eugeniu Cebotaru (Artur Patras, 77), Igor Bugaiov, Anatolie Doros (Gheorghe Boghiu, 63), Stanislav Ivanov.

Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Mikael Lustig, Erik Olof Mellberg, Daniel Majstorovic, Sebastian Larsson, Anders Svensson, Kim Kallstrom, Johan Elmander (Alexander Gerndt, 76), Tobias Hysen (Emir Bajrami, 40), Oscar Wendt, Ola Toivonen (Pontus Wernbloom, 69). AP