Swedish Premier Division - Game 29 - Djurgården (Away)
So the potential title clincher against Djurgården - a team predicted to finish 8th, yet they’ve been the only side within touching distance of us all season - 13 points clear of third place! This will be a tough match, particularly away, but I’m hopeful my backups can come up with the goods, and we can welcome PSG on the back of a title victory.
Some slick passing around the area in the 11th minute led to Petkovic sliding a ball across the face of goal to leave Neri with the simplest of finishes at the back post. Beautiful team goal, and the vital opening goal!
Eriksson’s flick on for Petkovic in the 18th gave the young winger a chance to shoot first time, but his effort was well saved.
The cleared ball was swung back in by Romagnoli, and Petkovic headed it into the roof of the net, but was offside.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Simon Thern, who has yet to regain match fitness, and he was forced off the field by yet another injury in the 38th minute. His replacement was Kardum.
Petkovic found Eriksson in the area in the 40th, but a defender got a foot in to divert his shot behind.
An Eriksson cross in the 43rd found Petkovic, who controlled, turned his man and shot. He beat the keeper, but not the right post.
In the 44th minute, a somewhat opportunistic piece of play led to a spectacular equaliser for Djurgården. A cross was headed clear, but straight to a man on the edge of the area, who half-volleyed a chip forwards and to his left for Tibbling to crash a perfect volley across Olsen and into the net.
Eriksson’s shot in the 51st minute beat the keeper, but came back off the left post. It appeared to be that sort of day.
Bengtsson came on for Romagnoli and KBH for Eriksson in the 56th.
In the 60th minute I couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched KBH’s shot get blocked, Neri’s followup get saved, and KBH’s followup get blocked as well!
We switched to 4-2-3-1 in the 62nd.
A Neri cross in the 81st was glanced goalward by the head of Kardum, but somehow the keeper caught it at full stretch.
Just 30 seconds later Biro-Biro held back the Djurgården striker as he looked to chase down a long ball. I thought it was going to be red, but was only yellow.
Former player Matthias Lepiller sent in the free kick and it pinballed around for a bit before Olsen made a great save to deny them.
Kardum raced the length of the field and cut inside, but with only the keeper to beat, couldn’t do it, as his effort was tipped over.
I went overload, but today was the sort of day where we couldn’t buy a goal - apart from the first one obviously.
Disappointed with the result, as we had more than enough chances to win the match. Djurgården to their credit played very well, and proved themselves worthy title rivals. They, like us, have lost just two matches all season, but have drawn three more than ourselves. The title is now ours, and hopefully the players’ morale is boosted by this as we square up to PSG in 3 days time.
POM: Oliver Silverholt (Djurgården - 9.0, 0G, 1A)
Best Malmö Player: Gianluca Neri (7.2, 1G, 0A)