Swedish Cup Group Stage - Game 1 - Assyriska (Home)
It’s mostly the backups who start today in the Swedish Cup, as we face off against Bayern in 4 days time. Castellano and Andersson make their debuts, whilst Delahaye gets an opportunity to lead the line and audition to start against Bayern - with Jovic and KBH injured, it’s between him and Santos. If the Brazilian was to start up top, Thauvin would likely take his place on the left wing. Kardum is not quite fit enough to start unfortunately, so he is on the bench.
In the 2nd minute Molins was denied at the near post after Neri’s through ball found him.
A brilliant save prevented Thauvin from opening the scoring with a first time shot two minutes later, after he was teed up by Gustafson.
In the 10th minute Delahaye should have put us ahead after Neri’s pass left him with just the keeper to beat, but his low effort was held.
Neri’s rocket a minute later was tipped around the post.
In the 14th minute Gustafson picked up a knock, and I opted to replace him with Kardum. Neri dropped back into central midfield.
Two minutes after taking the field, Kardum played a great one-two with Molins, and then put in a cross, which was volleyed home by Delahaye.
A swift counter in the 54th minute went from Delahaye to Kardum, to Thauvin, who lined up a shot but a desperate slide tackle put the ball behind for a corner.
Molins had been taking a beating and went off after that play, to be replaced by Forsberg.
Thauvin also took a knock, so Petkovic came on for him in the 63rd, switching wings with Forsberg.
A lovely combination of passes between Delahaye and Petkovic allowed the former a shot in the 76th, but another desperate tackle deflected it to safety.
In the 79th minute Johan Andersson made it a dream debut by doubling our lead. Bengtsson’s free kick was headed on by Biro-Biro, and the young defender was there to volley it back across the keeper and into the net!
In the 83rd minute we made it three with the most exquisite of counterattacks. Delahaye gathered a cleared free kick and raced into the opposition’s half, before lobbing the ball forwards and to the right for Petkovic, who picked it up at the top right corner of the box, took a touch and fired a low ball across the face of goal to the Belgian. Delahaye did well to keep it in play with a lovely cut back to the 6 yard box, which Kardum dispatched, albeit with the aid of a deflection, though it would have found the net regardless. The icing on the cake for my prize youngster, who had been sensational all game.
A comfortable win in the end, though it took us a while to really wrap up the game. Kardum deservedly picked up the POM award with his outstanding creativity in full display today. Delahaye was also excellent, with a goal and assist, and chances are he will start against Bayern, even if Thauvin’s knock doesn’t rule him out. His and Gustafson’s possible injuries are the only real concern. Andersson and Castellano enjoyed good debuts.
POM: Joakim Kardum (9.0, 1G, 1A)
Actually it was because I didn’t want to ask the board for more money with our financial situation as it is.
