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WC Qualifiers

Sweden remained unbeaten in their World Cup qualifying campaign after holding Portugal to a goalless draw.

The Portuguese came into the game looking to bounce back from their last-minute 3-2 defeat last time out against Denmark, but instead were lucky to leave the Swedish capital with a point.

Carlos Queiroz's side were outplayed by their hosts in the first half, and despite an improvement in the second they were nearly undone by a Zlatan Ibrahimovic strike after 78 minutes which had goalkeeper Quim scrambling.

Bolton striker Johan Elmander proved a constant menace to the Portuguese defence throughout the opening period and he came close to opening the scoring after just seven minutes when he shot wide under pressure.

Ten minutes later he went close again as he headed just over crossbar, and six minutes before the break he came close again with a header which flew just wide of the right post.

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, playing his first game under new coach Queiroz after having been kept out of the first two games through injury, provided the visitors' best chance of the half when he shot over the bar after 34 minutes.

After the break they threatened more, as Joao Moutinho tested goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson for the first time after 52 minutes with a right-footed drive from outside the box which was tipped round the post.

Ricardo Quaresma then went close with an angled shot which sailed over the bar, before Ibrahimovic missed the chance of the night when his shot from inside the box was matched by a great save from Quim.

Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Danny was introduced with four minutes remaining and he immediately teed up Quaresma for a long-range shot, but the Internazionale winger failed to find the target.

The draw meant Sweden remained a point clear of Portugal, while both sides lost ground on leaders Denmark.