Malmö FF hosted the Finnish champion HJK Helsinki in the first meeting of the second round of the Champions League qualifiers. They did it without left-back Jonas Knudsen, who started in all matches during the season but was forced to go out injured against Degerfors last time. With 18 minutes played, Eleda Stadion’s Sören Rieks almost extended the lead, but his shot from the left glanced off the top of the bar to fall behind the net. But the former MFF goalkeeper Jakob Tånnander easily saved.
Before that, Antonio Colak was released in the first minute, but unselfishly chose to pass to the far part of the penalty area – without any luck. MFF dominated the ball possession in the match introduction, but kept a slow ball tempo against the overall HJK defense.
With just under half an hour played, Filip Valencic fired the visitors’ first shot on goal, without causing Johan Dahlin any problems. With 42 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 – 0 lead as Felix Beijmo flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. However, the volley shot went a few meters over. In extra time, Colak was then released straight in front of Tånnander, who got his hands on the ball but could only see the shot go into the post.
Eleven minutes after the break, Colak forced Tånnander to save the ball to the corner, after a foul received the ball in the penalty area and fired a shot. A few minutes later, Anders Christiansen fired two shots within a short period of time. The first was a volley from a difficult angle that went close outside, the second a distance shot that Tånnader headed away to the corner.
With 66 minutes played, the visitors could have scored the tying goal after Anel Ahmedhodzic came through the middle, but his kick went wide. But in the 68th minute, under ongoing MFF pressure, HJK equalized. A winning header in the middle of the home side’s half of the field reached a running Roope Riski, who came loose and finished the ball distinctly next to Dahlin’s far post.
HJK could not hold the lead for very long. In minute 74, MFF got a free kick position about 25 meters from Tånnander’s goal. Christiansen’s free kick took the wall of players in front of the HJK goal, and placed the goalkeeper who was already on his way to the second post. Shortly after the 2-1 goal, Colak got a new goal chance which he finished close over.
Despite HJK’s disadvantage, it was MFF who kept the grip on the match and continued forward. Substitute Veljko Birmancevic got a position in minute 85 and shot the right shot in the burgaveln. But just a few minutes later, Valencic finished half a chance over after negligence in the home defense. 90 minutes into the game, Miro Tenho had a great chance to put his team ahead, but his kick from the left went wide.
The strong boost after the break finally gave the victory to Malmö FF. The return to Helsinki will be played on Tuesday next week.
Startelvor
Malmö FF: Dahlin – Beijmo, Nielsen, Ahmedhodzic, Larsson (substituted 76 ‘) – Lewicki (76’), Innocent – Rieks (69 ‘), Christiansen (K), Nalic (69’) – Colak
Substitutes: Berget, Birmancevic (69 ‘), Rakip, Moisander
HJK Helsingfors: Tånnander – Moren, Tem, O’Shaughnessy (K), Murillo – Saksela, Lingman, Jair (59′), Valencic (90′) – Ro. Riski (80′), Tanaka
Byten: Browne (59 ‘), Ri. Risks (80 ‘), Luis Henrique (90’)
Yellow cards: Ro. Risks (12 ‘), Larsson (60’)
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