In a tense, highly competitive game Sweden got its first victory of the World Cup tournament Friday when it eliminated Nigeria from the competition 2:1 in Kobe Japan. Sweden now head the so-called "group of death" with four points, followed by Argentina with three and England, one, ahead of the latter two's match in Sapporo this evening.

Henrik Larsson scored both the Swede's goal, one in either half, after Julius Aghahowa had headed the African team into the lead in the 27th minute. Following a Joseph Yobo run down the right followed by a perfect center, Aghahowa got in front of goal keeper Magnus Hedman to nod the ball home.

Earlier, in the 20th minute, Fredrik Ljungberg's had a dazzling run only to see keeper Ike Shoronmu push it for a corner, from which a goal bound header from Johan Mjallby was cleared off the line by Justice Christopher.

The equalizer came in the 35th minute when Larsson sidestepped two defenders and slotted home from close range. Nigeria nearly went ahead immediately after the restart when a clearance from Teddy Lucic hit Mjalby and headed goal ward, but struck the post to let Sweden off.

In a slower, but equally gripping second half, Larssen's constant probing of Nigeria's defense produced results when he provoked a reckless challenge by Ifeanyi Udeze in the box, and scored from the resulting penalty.

A desperate Nigeria threw everything into attacking the Swedes and could have salvaged a point when Taribo West headed wide from close range, and Yobo's long-range shot struck the post. However Sweden hung on and ended the match victors, with Nigeria joining Saudi Arabia as the first countries eliminated from the 2002 World Cup. (Chris Price, chris@chosun.com )