Mjallby's own goal cost the Swedes victory (Allsport).
SWEDES HELD BY JAPAN
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Sweden continued to shoot themselves in the foot in their World Cup
preparations as they drew against co-hosts Japan on Saturday.
Two days after a public training ground bust-up, defender Johan Mjallby put
through his own net to cancel out the first-half opener from Aston Villa's
new-signing Marcus Allback.
The Swedes hit the headlines for the wrong reasons on Thursday when Freddie
Ljungberg became embroiled in a brawl with Olof Mellberg during a practice
match.
The Arsenal midfielder was incensed after being caught late by the Villa
defender.
However, both were still in Sweden's starting line-up as the countdown
continues to their opener against England in eight days.
They went ahead in the 20th minute in Tokyo when former Heerenveen forward
Allback poked the ball home from seven yards after being played in by
strike-partner Henrik Larsson.
The hosts' best effort of a disappointing first half came two minutes earlier
when Hidetoshi Nakata tried his luck from 35 yards, but goalkeeper Magnus Hedman
was well positioned to grasp the ball under his cross bar.
Japan, who open against Belgium in Saitama on June 4, improved after the break
and were back on level terms in the 63rd minute.
Alex swung the ball in from the left, and although Nakata missed the header,
he did enough to put off Hedman.
The Coventry keeper failed to cut out the cross, with the ball rebounding into
the net off the shins of Mjallby.
Japan almost snatched the win deep in injury time, but Takayuki Suzuki dragged
his shot wide when the ball dropped at his feet 10 yards out.
Swedish coach Lars Lagerback admitted his side should have done better.
He said: ``We fought well, but we had problems with positioning and we did not
play very well in the first half.
``After the break the defence were better and we created some chances, but
overall we failed in attack.''
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