STOCKHOLM, Oct 11 — Sweden swept to a 3-0 win over brittle Bulgaria thanks to goals from Ola Toivonen, Oscar Hiljemark and Victor Lindeloef, a result that put them joint top of World Cup qualifying Group A with France.

Striker Toivonen missed an early header but put the Swedes ahead in the 39th minute, scooping the ball into the roof of the net after a swift Swedish attack down the right.

Ivelin Popov could have put Bulgaria level minutes later but fired wide with the goal at his mercy and he compounded his error by poking another great chance wide in the second half.

Sweden doubled their lead in the final minute of the first half when they again sliced Bulgaria open down the right and full back Emil Krafth pulled the ball back for Hiljemark to score from close range.

The second half was almost entirely one-way traffic as the Swedes tightened the screw, Lindeloef adding a third on the hour mark from Toivonen’s clever header back into the middle as Bulgaria failed to clear a set piece.

Having taken seven points from three games Sweden meet France in Paris on Nov. 11. — Reuters