Sweden were not at the races but talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic popped up when it mattered against Ireland, writes WADE PRETORIUS.

The Irish bossed the game and had several chances at goal but it was a moment of inspiration that ensured Sweden finished on level terms on Monday.

The high-profile free agent created the one chance that in the match that Sweden had to level the scores after Wes Hoolahan’s opener, according to SASoccermag’s Opta-powered match centre.

The tall Swede was a constant source of pressure to the men in green’s back four and won 4 of his 17 duels on the night, the majority of them being aerial battles.

At the centre of all of his side’s attacking moves, he completed 26 of 42 passes attempted.

Zlatan possess one of the biggest egos in the game and it would please him no end that it was he who created the pressure for the own goal after a dribbling run inside the Ireland box as his cross was headed past Randolph to help Sweden end on level terms.