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Sweden send Nigeria packing

Larsson: Stylish goal

KOBE, Japan (CNN) -- Sweden came from behind to beat Nigeria 2-1 and put the Super Eagles out of the World Cup.

Henrik Larsson scored twice, the second a penalty, to give the Swedes a great chance of progressing to the knock-out stage.

But it was tough on Nigeria, whose second defeat in the group means they will be going home next week.

Larsson kept his cool in the Kobe heat, picking himself up after being dragged down by Ifeanyi Udeze and hammering a 62nd minute penalty to the right of Ike Shorunmu.

The Celtic striker had dragged Sweden back into the game during an entertaining first half when he collected Fredrik Ljungberg's through-ball, cut inside a defender and calmly beat the keeper.

Chasing the game, Nigeria threw men forward. Defender Taribo West, his head bandaged after having stitches, headed wide when he should have scored. Then John Utaka rounded the keeper only to see his shot from a tight angle cleared off the line.

Aghahowa celebrates, but Nigeria's joy was shortlived

The luck was not running for Nigeria -- Joseph Yobo's left-foot shot hitting a post eight minutes before the end.

Sweden had started brightly but fell behind on 27 minutes when Julius Aghahowa met Yobo's right-wing cross ahead of keeper Magnus Hedman. The 20-year-old striker celebrated his header with seven somersaults.

Nigeria's lead lasted only eight minutes but Sweden survived a scare late in the first half after some comic defending. Jay Jay Okocha weaved into the area but fluffed his shot. However, Teddy Lucic blasted his clearance against teammate Johan Mjallby and the ball came back off a post.

Earlier, Mjallby had come close at the other end when his 21st minute header was cleared off the line.

Sweden drew their opening game 1-1 against England while Nigeria lost 1-0 to Argentina.

Sweden Magnus Hedman; Olof Mellberg, Johan Mjallby, Andreas Jakobsson, Teddy Lucic; Niclas Alexandersson, Tobias Linderoth, Anders Svensson, Fredrik Ljungberg; Marcus Allback, Henrik Larsson

Nigeria Ike Shorunmu; Ifeanyi Udeze, Taribo West, Isaac Okoronkwo, Celestine Babayaro; Joseph Yobo, Jay Jay Okocha, Justice Christopher; Bartholomew Ogbeche, Julius Aghahowa, John Utaka

Referee Rene Ortube (Bolivia)