We have a gruelling schedule ahead - in four days we play APOEL, 3 days later is Elfsborg, and 3 days after that is APOEL again. 3 vital games in the stretch of 9 days!
Atouba complained about a lack of first team football so I promised him some games
Champions Playoff - First Leg - APOEL (Away)
Today’s team selection keeps in mind the upcoming match against Elfsborg. Hopefully we can dominate this first leg, thus allowing me to play a strong side against our domestic rivals without having to rest them for the second leg.
It was the Cypriots, however, who crafted the first chance, with their striker ballooning over the bar in the 6th minute.
In the 21st minute, Lepiller drifted a corner in and Rodrigo Possebon rose highest to head the ball home for his first Malmö goal!
APOEL continued to pressure us however, and equalised 5 minutes later through Tiago Gomes from just inside the box.
In the 39th minute we should have gone ahead, but Eriksson’s header from Mater’s cross hit the upright and bounced clear.
In the second half, Eriksson lovely through ball in the 49th minute was wasted by Eagles, who hit the keeper. Forsberg replaced him almost immediately.
In the 53rd, Forsberg was involved in the buildup, as Thern laid off to Possebon for an ambitious long shot. He struck it well and hit the crossbar, and Eriksson was first to the rebound and put it away!
Shortly afterwards, Adu and Gustafson replaced Moussi and Thern.
A 69th minute corner almost brought our 3rd, as Possebon cushioned a header to Gustafson, who laid off to Eriksson for a vicious shot destined for the top left, but their keeper made an unbelievable flying save.
4 minutes later, Lepiller made a run to the baseline and cut back for Eriksson, who laid off to Gustafson just behind him. Simon’s shot struck a defender and rebounded to Eriksson, whose shot hit the keeper, but he was first to the loose ball and finished it for his second of the night.
Less than a minute later, we scored again! The ball was worked down the left, and Eriksson had a shot from an angle. The keeper made the save, but it rebounded out to his left, and Forsberg was there to volley home the rebound!
In the 90th minute, a free kick fell to Gustafson for a shot, but their keeper held it. A few players seemed to think the ball crossed the line, but the referee was having none of it.
All in all, a brilliant performance, with Possebon and Eriksson, who had a 6.2 rating at half time, the stand out performers. We are almost guaranteed a group stage place at this stage, which, if achieved, will mean I have reached my goal for this seasons Champions League!
MOM: Magnus Eriksson (9.2, 2G, 1A)