Sweden 0-0 Rep of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland kept their 2014 World Cup dream alive with a 0-0 draw to Sweden in Stockholm's Friends Arena on Friday night. Giovanni Trapattoni's team maintained their impressive form away from home having still not lost in qualifying on their travels, leaving them third in Group C and trailing leaders Germany by four points. The Swedes remain second on seven points. The Irish looked lively in the opening stages with captain Robbie Keane getting into a good position before picking out Jon Walters, but his header was off target. Keane was then presented with an opportunity from a corner, but the striker failed to connect with Shane Long's cross and the danger was cleared. Long then found room to shoot from outside the box following some nice bit of work, but he blazed his shot over the crossbar. The hosts finally got in on the act as Kim Kallstrom found Sebastian Larsson with a cross, but the winger's volley flashed across the face of goal. A volley from Tobias Hysen then tested David Forde, who made a brilliant one-handed to save to his right to keep the scores level. The goalkeeper, who was making his first competitive start, had to deal with a long-range shot from Kallstrom soon after that bounced awkwardly but Forde parried the ball away. Sweden almost broke the deadlock shortly after the hour-mark when Behrang Safari picked out Larsson with a square ball, but once again he finishing was wayward. James McClean pulled his shot well across goal from an aover-hit Keane cross, while at the other end Ibrahimovic and Alexander Kacaniklic also wasted chances. The visitors had Forde to thank for rescuing them in the final minute after he produced another superb save to deny Rasmus Elm from a deflected shot.