Swedish players celebrate the victory over Paraguay as Paraguayan Edgar Barreto walks by at the end of the World Cup 2006 Group B Round 2 match at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, Germany, June 15, 2006. Sweden won 1-0. -Xinhua

Freddie Ljungberg's header in the 89th minute helped Sweden edge Paraguay 1-0 in their World Cup group B duel here on Thursday, sending the South American home as they lost twice without a goal.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said," It was a really good team effort from us tonight. I have a lot of respect for the Paraguay team but we created more goalscoring chances. Of course there is relief, but the players did a marvellous job and deserved to win. "

Ljungberg, who plays for English Premier side Arsenal, popped up at the far post to head home after teammate Marcus Allback put a center back across goal.

Ljungberg, who was named Man of the Match by FIFA Technical Study Group, said after the match that he could not wait for Tuesday's crunch game against England, after his goal kept alive Sweden's hopes of winning Group B.

"It's going to be difficult but it will be a massive game as both teams want to win the group," said the Arsenal man.

"I think we played well, better than against Trinidad and Tobago. We created enough chances to win the game."

Ljungberg added, "But of course you get a little worried when you create that many chances and the ball doesn't want to go in.

"It was absolutely the best match I have ever experienced. The fans are never this crazy when we play at home. All the Swedes were screaming like mad." he said.

Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz described his team's World Cup exit as "deeply painful".

Ruiz said, "Sweden had more chances to score, they had more possession. It hurts but we have to congratulate the other team. Let me say that it is really deeply painful."

In the first half, Sweden's world-class striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic shot tamely at the Paraguay goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla and Allback had an effort cleared off the line as it looked like Sweden would fail to get a goal.

Sweden were surprisingly tied 0-0 with World Cup debutants Trinidad and Tobago in their first group B match while Paraguay lost to England 1-0.

With today's win, Sweden collected four points to stand second in the group, following England who beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 on Thursday afternoon.

In the Sweden-Paraguay clash, neither team did not play conservatively, as they were racing from end to end.

It was like a final for both teams. The Scandinavians started in determined fashion, but were frequently met by some rugged Paraguayan defending.

In the ninth minute, a power blast from distance by Swede Kim Kallstrom made Bobadilla stretch to slap it out for a corner. The corner swang dangerously across the face of the goal.

In th 16th minute, a nice run by Ljungberg ended with Sweden's another world-class Henrik Larsson squandering a ball across the face of the goal.

In the 27th minute, a nice ball found Swede Christian Wilhelmsson in on goal, but his first touch let him down and the goalkeeper scooped it up.

In the 34th, Larsson got to a high ball near the penalty spot but headed it straight at the Paraguay goalkeeper.

Paraguay proved as stubborn to break down in this game as they had been when England played them last Saturday. But their attacking looked weaker than their defense. The South Americans also got some scoring chances in the match but few was on goal.

Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz said only one aspect of their game had halted them from winning.

"We played a good match, we tried hard, but what was lacking was that last pass, that last push that you need to score," said Cruz.

In the 60th, Swede Marcus Allback broke free behind the defenseand chipped Bobadilla, only to see Denis Caniza flew in to save itoff the line.

Larsson and Ibrahimovic, after their threatening first quarter of an hour, began to be seen less and less, as the toothlessness which has seen Sweden fail to win a game since last October began to re-appear.

Finally, Ljungberg made the breakthrough and ensured his team are favorites to follow England into round two.

Sweden will take on England on Tuesday. If they win, they will top Group B. A defeat, on the other hand, could send the Swedes home and put Trinidad and Tobago into the knockout round.