Allsvenskan - Game 8 - Ängelholm (Home)
Even with a rotated lineup I will be very surprised if Ängelholm cause us any real difficulties. Castellano makes his first league appearance for us in goals.
In the 2nd minute Bengtsson slammed a free kick into the wall. It came straight back to him, so he looped a cross to the back post, where Gustafson leaped high above his man to head home his second of the season.
Molins doubled our lead in the 21st minute. Thauvin skipped down the left before cutting the ball inside for Neri, who teed up Kardum for a powerful shot. The keeper kept it out at full stretch, but was helpless to prevent Molins from converting the rebound.
Two minutes later Thauvin finally picked up his first goal of the season! Neri surged through the midfield and unselfishly set up Molins, whose effort really should have been held by the keeper. It wasn’t though, and it took a touch off a defender before falling to Thauvin, who made no mistake.
In the 27th minute Gustafson had his second with a sensational volley. A Bengtsson free kick was cleared, but Kardum chipped it back in, and Gustafson hit a swivelling volley to put us four up!
Two minutes later it was 5! Molins hit one of the most vicious shots I’ve ever seen from just outside the area. It cannoned back off the join of the right post and the crossbar, and flew toward the penalty spot, where Delahaye met it with a volley and found the back of the net.
In the 38th minute Kardum’s great ball found Molins, who skipped inside his man and was tripped. Penalty! Gustafson with the chance to seal his hat trick from the spot - top right corner! I’ve got to say, I was not expecting a hat trick inside of 40 minutes from my defensive centre midfielder!
In the 49th minute Joakim Kardum, who had two assists already, decided to join the goalscoring party, picking out the top right corner from outside the box.
Three minutes later Thauvin scored his second, firing clinically across the keeper after Kardum set him up perfectly.
In the 70th minute Delahaye should have had his second as well, having been played in by Thauvin, but his powerful effort was very well saved.
In the 81st minute, Delahaye’s audacious lob bounced on the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.
Seconds later, Molins, Biro-Biro and hat trick hero Gustafson departed, replaced by Forsberg, Romagnoli and Thern respectively.
Poor Ängelholm were unfortunate to come up against a rampant Malmö FF today. And these are my backups! A special day for Gustafson, who not only wore the captain’s armband, but scored a brilliant hat trick from a defensive central midfield role! Everyone was brilliant though. We had a mammoth 41 shots, whilst our opponents managed just one - and it was off target!
POM: Simon Gustafson (9.6, 3G, 0A)