Goor caught former Sheffield Wednesday defender Roland Nilsson in possession and drove a low shot past advancing Coventry City goalkeeper Magnus Hedman.

Earlier Kennet Andersson and Emile M'penza had come closest to breaking the deadlock.

Kennet Andersson was inches wide with a downward header from a corner as the Swedes started strongly, and M'penza headed just over the bar from a Gert Verheyen cross.

Sweden had got off to a flying start and threatened in the opening seconds, Andersson latching onto a long ball and trying his luck from the edge of the area but Belgium keeper Filip de Wilde got down low to his right to make a comfortable save.

The Swedes continued to make the early running and won a free-kick five yards outside the Belgium box. Former Blackburn defender Patrik Andersson's low strike was deflected wide for a corner that came to nothing.

Kennet Andersson's height was posing problems and his nod-on found Jorgen Pettersson who shaped to shoot inside the area only for Lorenzo Staelens to come to the rescue, stretching to hook the ball over the bar.

Belgium's marking was sadly lacking from the resulting corner and Kennet Andersson rose unchallenged only to direct his downward header inches wide of de Wilde's left-hand post.

Belgium's first threat came from Derby County striker Branko Strupar who swivelled on the edge of the box only to lift his shot over the bar.

Strupar threatened again from a 21st-minute free-kick but his glancing header flashed over.

Belgium were beginning to build up a head of steam and when Gert Verheyen curled in an inviting cross Marc Wilmots was close to connecting with a diving header, Joachim Bjorklund doing just enough to put him off.

Sweden's defence backpedalled when Verheyen drove forward from the centre circle but he sliced his shot high and wide.

Sweden repeated their route one tactic, Hedman launching a long kick and Kennet Andersson heading on - and Staelens had to be alert to prevent Pettersson from cashing in.

The pacy M'penza found space on the right when Belgium launched a swift counter-attack on the half-hour. His cut-back found Wilmots but his shot was blocked.

Strupar was guilty of being greedy when Belgium mounted a 36th-minute raid. He opted to go solo and unleashed a low shot that lacked power and failed to trouble Hedman when Wilmots was in space to his right.

The Swedes were under the cosh now and they had a narrow escape when M'penza climbed at the far post to power a header a foot over the bar from Verheyen's measured cross.

Arsenal striker Fredrik Ljungberg tried his luck from 20 yards in the 40th minute, but de Wilde got down to smother the shot. Just when it seemed that the first-half stalemate would not be broken Goor pounced to fire Belgium ahead two minutes from the break.

Goor muscled Nilsson off the ball and charged into the area, holding his nerve to steer a low shot to the right of the advancing Hedman.

Patrik Andersson picked up the first booking of the match on the stroke of half-time after clattering into M'penza near the touchline.