GIF Sundsvall v Hammarby IF 29.10.17

A big game for the home side who prior to kick off sat 3^rd from bottom (in the relegation play off position). Jönköpings sit level on points with a +2 goal difference on them. There’s a sense that this is must win for the home side.

Sundsvall have a decent home record against today’s opponents, having not lost to them in their last 6 meetings. They started the game as you’d expect, quick, pushing up, creating chances. Wilson missed a chance he should have scored, but the resulting corner was put in by Gracia, 1-0 to the home side, easy, right? Hammarby were barely in the game until the last ten of the first half, they were clinical though, Svendsen headed in a cross to grab an equaliser before the half was over.

It only went downhill in the second half for the home side. Despite coming out quickly again, they looked vulnerable whenever they were made to defend. Svendsen took a run at the defence, wasn’t closed down and managed to beat the keeper for his second of the game. All you could hear from here on were the away fans and with good reason. Paulsen legged it up the pitch and his gamble paid off as the ball fell to him and he struck for 3-1. Sævarsson fizzed the ball across the box but it was intercepted by the keeper before it could reach Smárason. Not to worry for the midfielder though as Svendsen put it on a plate for him in stoppage for him to give Hammarby a flattering and well deserved 4-1 win away from home. Sundsvall will now have to beat Göteborg and hope Jönköping lose their final game to avoid the play-offs.

GIF Sundsvall 1 - 4 Hammarby IF

IFK Norrköping vs Malmö FF - 16/10/17

Taking my first steps into Swedish League football. Every time I have watched a Swedish side before it has been against one of the big guns in the Champions League, with the Swedes always being the underdogs. Today was different, I watched a match between IFK Norrköping and Malmö FF. Here was the table before the match:

With three games to go after this match, Malmö fans knew a win today would see their team seal the league title (and in place Champions League qualification for next season). The runner up and the third placed team qualify for the Europa League along with the winner of the Svenska Cupen (their domestic cup). Norrköping knew a win today would take them to 46 points and give them a real chance of qualifying for Europe.

It really was a match of two halves. In the first, it seemed as though Norrköping were winning all the first and second balls, they were latching onto everything. They were quicker, hungrier and much more direct in their offensive play. Malmö on the other hand, when they had the ball were playing at a snails pace. Norrköping were using their wingers well, and broke the deadlock and potentially Malmö’s party, with David Moberg Karlsson (or DMK). He was given the ball near the half way line and made a lovely run and shot from outside the box. The goal keeper probably should have done better, but the home side were in dreamland. For the most part they dominated the first half, though in injury time, Malmö midfielder Lewicki appeared to be pushed to the ground, but no penalty was given.

When I said it was a game of two halves, I meant it. Malmö were incredible in the second half, they were immediately on the front foot and it only took until the 48^th minute for them to equalise. It was a lovely team goal, with a nice through ball from Christiansen to Strandberg who finished it off neatly. Lewicki nearly scored a cracker, before Nielson headed in a corner to put his team 2-1 ahead. If the travelling Malmö fans weren’t ecstatic enough by now, after seeing Christiansen cut in and score a goal the superstars could be proud of, they were now! They impatiently waited for the final whistle, as soon as it came they were off. Malmö fans in their droves stormed the pitch to congratulate their team, who had successfully won a 20^th league title! The most successful Swedish club side in Allsvenskan history!

My man of the match has to be that Danish fella, Christiansen, he set up the first goal, took the corner that led to the second and scored a beauty. 10/10.