Due to heavy rain and thunderstorms, it took a long time before the summit between Elfsborg and Djurgården could start. But an hour after the appointed time, referee Victor Wolf was finally able to kick off the match.
Then it was Djurgården who started the match best, without creating any better scoring chances, before Elfsborg could take over everything more with ten minutes played.
The first half was then even for a long time and well, without any real major scoring chances. Until the 28th minute. Then Elfsborg’s summer success Besfort Zeneli came incredibly close to taking the home lead – but Djurgården deservedly covered the shot attempt at the last moment.
In minute 36, it was finally time for the first goal of the match to fall. Then it was Djurgården’s supporters who would be allowed to cheer. This after Patric Åslund, in his first start at his new club, pushed a rebound into Deniz Hümmet’s finish in the net.
For a long time, Djurgården looked like they could go to the half-time break in the lead. But Elfsborg wanted something else – and equalized beautifully through Besfort Zeneli in the 46th minute.
– It is important for us to get a ball in and go into the break with 1-1, instead of 0-1, Simon Hedlund told Max during the break and continued:
– It’s not really a super half. I think we are careless with the ball a little too much, we are a little too slow in the build-up of play and then they have time to move. We will increase that in the second half.
Åslund said the following about his goal to Max:
– Incredibly nice. It was a nice start to the match. We had had some good attacks and then it was nice that that one came in as well.
He then continued:
– I think we play quite safe. We try to find their weaker points and exploit them, while trying to exploit our way of playing and our identity.
– I think the most important thing is that we don’t go into the break with a feeling that their goal means something. We have done well and we continue to rub on the things we started on and then we just drive.
Elfsborg then came out freshest after the break and came close to taking the lead in the 49th minute through Andri Baldursson, but the finish hit just wide of the post.
After Elfsborg had been the slightly better team for a long time, Djurgården was able to move the team forward with barely a quarter of an hour left. Then the guests were razor sharp – and took the lead via a beautiful attack that Besard Sabovic finished off in the goal.
Sabovic celebrated the goal in front of Elfsborg’s heels. An action that stirred up great emotions among the home team’s players and supporters – and resulted in a yellow card.
Djurgården was then able to persevere and take three hyper-important points in the battle for gold. Now the Stockholmers have only four points to Malmö FF, with one less game played.
– It was three incredibly nice points. Some points feel nicer than others, says Lagerlöf at the press conference after the match and continues:
– We worked really hard and were under a lot of pressure in the second half. The fact that we managed to win the victory in spite of that strengthens morale. Elfsborg has been a winning machine since Elfsborg took over.
At the same time, the result means that Oscar Hiljemark has suffered his first loss, and his first point loss, after winning all six opening games before the meeting with Djurgården.
– We congratulate Djurgården on three points. That is what football is about in the end, notes Oscar Hiljemark, who also gave his view on the match:
– We get it a little wrong and Djurgården gets into the match immediately. We then create some changes that make us grow into it. In the second half, we come out in a nice way against one of the league’s absolute best football teams and pretty much control everything. But if you lose sharpness for a few seconds, you will be punished. They did that well today. We get to look at ourselves in the mirror.
However, there was a cloud of worry in Djurgården after the match. Rasmus Schüller, who recently returned after a long injury absence, was replaced at half-time. Thomas Lagerlöf explained after the match that he did not know how the situation was with the Finn:
– It was not intended that he would play that much more. I don’t know if he was in pain or if it was just right there.
In came Albin Ekdal instead. However, the midfielder was left lying down after a duel and was replaced after 71 minutes of play:
– I don’t know how long, says Lagerlöf briefly.
Startelvor:
Elfsburg: Pettersson – Holmén, Henriksson (Ouma 84), Yegbe – Hedlund, Baldursson (A. Zeneli 84), B. Zeneli, Hult – Baidoo – Frick (Qasem 75), Abdullai.
Djurgården: Widell Zetterström – Ståhl, Tenho (Danielson 84), Une Larsson, Kosugi – Sabovic, Schüller (Ekdal 46, Leach Holm 71) – Wikheim (Radetinac 84), Åslund (Fallenius 65), Gulliksen – Hümmet.
