"Spain stuns Sweden in injury time"

David Villa capitalised on a defensive mix to score in injury time Saturday, giving Spain a 2-1 victory over Sweden who moved to the gates of a place in the quarterfinals of the European Championship.

The party has sought to establish end in a draw after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had equalized after Fernando Torres' 15th-minute goal, but a long ball from defence in the second minute of time added deceived defender Petter Hansson and fell kindly Villa. The Valencia striker slipped the ball to the left of goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson for his fourth goal of leading the tournament.

"I'm proud of this goal that I was one of three that scored the other day," said Villa. "It's good for me to be there and achieve three points for Spain. Today, we suffered a little more."

The result leaves Spain with six points in Group D, three more than Sweden and the brink of the quarterfinals.

"We are very happy. We had many chances in the second half and we managed (to score)," Spain coach Luis Aragones said. "In the second half, went in search of the goal and things developed.

"We were the head of the ball in the second half. I think we definitely think that Spain is playing better since that point."

Torres had put Spain in front of the lung to a pass from David Silva with his right foot extended to intercept and tap past Isaksson.

Swedish veteran Henrik Larsson had fired over the bar and Johan Elmander, who scored against Spain in a qualifying match for Euro 2008, losing twice before Fredrik Stoor curled a pass from the right to Ibrahimovic in the area in 34. The striker away from marker Sergio Ramos and hit a low shot just made under goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Spain could benefit later Saturday when defending champion Greece takes on Russia.

"It's obviously bitter to lose like this in the last seconds," Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said.

Sweden continued its game plan of staying patient and paste in the counterattack after Spain had controlled early with Torres disturbing the Swedish area with a mixture of darting runs and deft dribbling.

"We are trapped in some poor play in the first 15 to 20 minutes in the first half," said Aragones.

Torres, who was rumoured to have been unhappy with his early substitution in Spain opening 4-1 win in Russia, soon put his team ahead. Silva chipped a pass diagonally into the area to Joan Capdevila, but Torres stuck his right foot to intercept and tap his first goal of the tournament and 16 overall in 51 appearances for Spain.

His first international goal since September was only his third since the 2006 World Cup.

Spain replaced with centre back Carles Puyol Raul Albiol in the 24 th because of an injury, but still awaits comfortable in the face of erratic and disjointed play for Sweden.

Larsson and Johan Elmander had their chances before Stoor Ibrahimovic found in the rear.

Ibrahimovic Stoor initially tried to volley a cross from the right and regained control before shrugging Ramos to the ground. The Inter Milan striker swerved to score with a low right-footed shot that Casillas has a hand but could not keep out.

It was the second match in which he had scored Ibrahimovic, after he broke a near three-year drought scoring in a 2-0 victory against Greece.

"I do not know if we are too dependent on him, but he is a first-class player," said Lagerback. "Of course, I think we have a better chance with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the field without that."

Villa was in the team despite maintaining a hair fracture their right index finger while celebrating his first hat trick of goals against Russia, Sweden and the defense kept it under wraps until 38, when Isaksson had to stop a low shot.

Elmander, who started in place of injured Christian Wilhelmsson, Spain was worrying for the flank, but was lucky not to award a penalty for a push Silva just before halftime.

Markus Rosenberg came to Ibrahimovic to start the second half, with Sweden does not want to risk his star player of the swollen left knee.

There were few clear opportunities in the second half, and those who came went to Spain. Sweden's attack that lacked the physical presence of Ibrahimovic, Larsson and Hansson not only to meet the cross at the far post to the 79th of his team the best chance.

"The team looked superior when he went to the ball. This is a good victory against a very good team," said Aragones. "We had a lot to lose coming in."

At the other end, Villa Silva jumped to the recovery of the 63 th and fired directly at Isaksson from close range. Villa then recovered the loose ball and centered to find Torres, whose shot was blocked. Isaksson, who took a blow on the face of Villa knee, and then caught Torres' weak header from a corner post.

The teams seemed content with a draw that would have helped them, but Sweden was captured at the time of Capdevila sent a 40 metre (yard) pass over the head of Torres and on the way from Sweden defender Hansson. Hansson lost the ball under pressure from Villa, who calmly scored with an angled shot from just inside the area.

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Lineups:

Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Fredrik Stoor, Olof Mellberg, Petter Hansson, Mikael Nilsson, Johan Elmander (Sebastian Larsson, 79), Anders Svensson, Daniel Andersson, Fredrik Ljungberg, Henrik Larsson (Kim Kallstrom, 86), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Markus Rosenberg, 46).

Spain: Iker Casillas, Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol (Alboil Raul, 24), Joan Capdevila, Sergio Ramos, Marcos Senna, Xavi Hernandez (Cesc Fabregas, 58), Andres Iniesta (Santi Cazorla, 59), David Silva, David Villa, Fernando Torres.