Last-minute Masouras equaliser denies Sweden World Cup warm-up victory

Sweden were hoping for a quick response after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to their neighbours Norway three days earlier. They entered the Oslo match missing several regular starters, but this time there was no shortage of quality from the beginning, with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres making their first start together under Graham Potter.

However, their hopes of a strong start were shattered in the 10th minute when the Greek side, who had not qualified for the World Cup, took the lead. The warning signs were clear: Andrews Tetteh fired just over the bar, and Kostas Mavropanos rose highest from a corner but failed to direct his header on target.

From Greece's second corner of the night, Kostas Tsimikas' delivery was cleared but picked up on the left flank by Christos Tzolis, who then found Tsimikas after he had drifted into the edge of the box, and he side-footed the ball through a crowd of players and past Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

Greece almost doubled their lead in the 19th minute. A clearance was controlled by Dimitrios Kourbelis, who unleashed a stunning strike from nearly 30 yards that hit the underside of the bar and bounced away after deflecting off the diving Nordfeldt.

There was concern shortly afterwards when Gyokeres stayed down following a poor challenge from Panagiotis Retsos. Once the Arsenal man was able to continue, the half-cleared free kick was struck sweetly by Benjamin Nygren, whose shot flew just wide of the post.

By the 34th minute, Sweden were still waiting for their first shot on target. A dreadful backpass from Lazaros Rota was intercepted by Gyokeres, who beat his marker but then rolled the ball across to Nygren, whose attempt was quickly blocked by a covering defender.

Late in the first half, Nordfeldt was unconvincing as he saved a tame effort from Tzolis before pushing a Tetteh shot towards his near post out for a corner. At the other end, Yasin Ayari sent a fierce low volley just wide, and then Gyokeres finally had a shot on goal in added time, but his 25 yard effort was easily handled by Konstantinos Tzolakis.

After making eight changes at half time against Norway, Potter stuck with the same starting eleven for the second period. That decision nearly backfired within two minutes when Vangelos Pavlidis curled a 20 yard effort with his right foot around Nordfeldt and off the post. Soon after, Tzolis tried a similar shot but could not bend it enough.

But the manager's faith was rewarded in the 53rd minute. Sweden won a free kick in a central position; Gyokeres struck it from 28 yards out, and a deflection off the wall kept the ball low, deceiving Tzolakis, who could not stop the striker from scoring his 20th international goal.

Just after the hour mark, Potter responded to counterpart Ivan Jovanovic's six changes by making nine of his own. The new look Blagult needed only five minutes to show their worth as squad players. Taha Ali, making just his second appearance, sprinted down the left wing between four Greek defenders, then fired a low cross over for Gustaf Nilsson to bundle home and put the Swedes ahead.

More trickery from Malmo's Ali gave Sweden a chance to add a third, but Besfort Zeneli skewed his effort wide. Anthony Elanga then sent a shot too close to Tzolakis, as Greece failed to break through a resolute home defence in the closing stages.

In added time, Elanga forced replacement goalkeeper Christos Mandas into a simple save, but two goals seemed enough for Sweden.

That was until the final action of the match. An in swinging cross from Charalampos Kostoulas was met at the edge of the six yard box by Masouras, who got in front of his marker to deflect the ball in off the post and earn a 2-2 draw for the Blue and Whites.

The last gasp equaliser means Sweden's only wins under Graham Potter remain the two play off victories in March. The Scandinavian side will now prepare to fly to Mexico, where their World Cup Group F campaign begins against Tunisia on 15th June in Monterrey.