Swedish Cup - Semi Final - Gefle (Away)
Gefle are our semi final opponents. A rotated side takes the field, with Sixten Mohlin continuing in his role as Cup goalkeeper. Hopefully they can get the job done against a team that just thrashed Brommapojkarna 5-0 in the league.
Eriksson should have opened the scoring in the 3rd minute but his header from Molins’ cross hit the inside of the post and bounced clear.
In the 10th minute he made no mistake though, finishing off Neri’s excellent pass.
Forsberg scored a beauty of a half volley in the 18th minute, from an exceptionally sharp angle after Tinnerholm had crossed the ball.
He had an easier chance 3 minutes later after Eriksson played him through one on one, but he missed the target completely.
Neri found Molins in behind the defence in the 42nd minute, but he too contrived to shoot the wrong side of the post.
Kardum was flourishing in his natural AMC role - his half time stats: 56 passes, 50 completed, including no less than 10 key passes!
In the 53rd minute Gefle launched an attack, and a low cross was volleyed beautifully, but Mohlin acrobatically tipped it over the bar!
Molins got on the board in the 59th minute, converting Ricardinho’s low cross from just a couple of yards out at the back post, the Brazilian fullback having been set free by Kardum, who was pulling all the strings.
In the 61st minute Tinnerholm played a square pass across the box and Eriksson’s shot was saved at full stretch by the keeper, before being cleared off the line.
Delahaye and Petkovic replaced Eriksson and Forsberg in the 62nd.
Ricardinho’s cross in the 63rd minute found Molins who hit the keeper, before Delahaye’s followup had the same result, and was cleared for a throw in.
Biro-Biro threw to Tinnerholm on the right edge of the box, who passed back up to Molins near the top right corner of the box. Molins squared inside for Neri, who took a touch and struck the most beautiful shot from the edge of the area, straight as an arrow, into the top left corner! An absolutely gorgeous goal - it was still rising when it bulged the roof of the net!
In the 71st minute an appalling pass from Mohlin went straight to their striker, but he shot high from 30-odd yards with the goal gaping.
Santos replaced Molins in the 73rd and swapped wings with Petkovic.
In the 78th minute Delahaye was on his way forward with the ball before a slide tackle from behind knocked the ball away. It rolled straight into the path of Santos, whose effort was tipped onto the post by the keeper, but the Brazilian slid the rebound into the net.
In the 86th minute Tinnerholm’s cross was volleyed straight at the keeper by Delahaye, and Petkovic’s followup was blocked.
In the 87th Santos found Kardum in the box but his shot was tipped behind as a defender managed to get a foot in just in time.
The corner was cleared straight upfield, and Kardum chased it down. He passed diagonally forward to his right for Delahaye, who chipped the ball to his left for Petkovic just outside the box, who sent a volley whistling extremely narrowly over the bar.
In the 90th minute with Kardum receiving treatment on the sidelines, Neri sent a lovely raking pass through for Santos, who turned the ball inside for Delahaye, who shot straight at the keeper.
Complete and utter domination today. Neri and Kardum, my two young playmakers, were absolutely outstanding, totally controlling the midfield, Kardum with 13 key passes and Neri with 8! The former also completed 9 dribbles, and was unlucky not to pick up any assists, but nonetheless finished with a well deserved match rating of 9. Neri’s spectacular goal was the highlight, and the youngster fully deserved his Man of the Match award. Everyone else played very well today, and I felt it was because of the performance of these two that they were able to do so. Very promising for the future! This also puts us into the final of the Cup for the second straight year, and there is no reason not to be confident of retaining the trophy. Mind you, our opponents in last years final, IFK, will be there again this year, having thrashed Elfsborg 5-0 in their own backyard! They were aided by a 27th minute red card but were 2-0 up at the time, and have made a great start in the league too, so I’m looking forward to some close matches against them this year - I hope!
POM: Gianluca Neri (9.3, 1G, 1A)
