Sweden 5-1 Tunisia: Ayari brace and a Isak-Gyökeres show light up the return

Sweden announced their return to the World Cup with a thumping 5-1 win over Tunisia, a result built on two spectacular Yasin Ayari strikes and the firepower of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres. Graham Potter's side were ruthless, and by full time they sat top of Group F.

Ayari bookends a rout

Ayari — who is of Tunisian descent — set the tone inside seven minutes, picking his spot with a thunderous finish from distance. Isak doubled the lead in the 30th minute before Omar Rekik pulled one back for Tunisia just before half-time (43').

Any hope of a Tunisian comeback was extinguished after the break. Gyökeres made it 3-1 on 59 minutes, and substitute Mattias Svanberg struck within seconds of coming on to add the fourth on 84. Ayari then completed his brace deep into stoppage time (90+6), blasting home from the edge of the box for a fifth and the pick of the night.

What it means for Group F

The win, and the goal difference that came with it, lifts Sweden to the top of Group F after the Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 earlier in the day. It was a statement of intent from a side many had overlooked, and it leaves Tunisia with work to do. Revisit the game on the match page or see the full schedule at matches.