Foto: THERESE BACK / STELLA PICTURES/THERESE BACK THERESE BACK
Photo: ANDREAS L ERIKSSON / BILDBYRÅN
Hammarby IF was beaten to win at home against Gif Sundsvall after losing the first match in the group against Västerås SK. When the starting eleven was released, it was a completely new eleven.
Players such as August Mikkelsen, Mads Fenger, Tesfaldet Tekie and Pavle Vagic due to injuries and illness, therefore Kim Hellberg was forced to form a completely new back line.
There, Anton Kralj and Fredrik Hammar had to take care of the edges while Shaquille Pinas and Markus Karlsson started as centre-backs.
Shock start for Bajen
The match also started in the worst possible way for the green and whites. Yaqub Finey carefully stayed in front and headed in the lead goal behind Oliver Dovin.
But Hammarby made contact and a few minutes later Nahir Besara hit a perfect cross to Jusef Erabi who equalized to 1-1 all by himself with the goalkeeper.
In the 18th minute, “Giffarna’s” Pontus Engblom had a golden chance to give Sundsvall the lead again, but the striker, who was free with the goalkeeper, chipped off the post.
Saved the team
And the guests would continue to bog down scoring opportunities. In the 44th minute, Sundsvall was awarded a penalty, after a handball situation, but Oliver Stojanovic Fredin shot wide and it was 1-1 at the break.
But it was the home team that would take the lead. In the 68th minute, Besara pushed a left shot that found its way into the goalkeeper’s right cross to make it 2-1.
In extra time, 3-1 also came through Erabi, who thus scored his second of the evening. The victory means that Hammarby climbs up to second place, on the same number of points as Västerås but with a better goal difference, and thus also has a chance of further advancement before the final match against Mjällby at Tele 2 arena.
– Sundsvall starts well and solves the pressure in a good way, then we get a little grip after the first quarter. Then we are quite good and create goalscoring chances. It fluctuates constantly, with chances in both directions, so 8-4 would have been a reasonable result. There are many young players in both teams, there was a lot of energy and it was important to win for us. Now it’s live for the last match. We get to beat Mjällby, says Kim Hellberg.
How does it feel to win for the first time?
– The problem with the profession is that you are always more dissatisfied when you win than the other way around. I think about what we could have done better but it doesn’t feel like the world ended this time. It’s nice.
That Erabi was able to score two goals pleased the coach.
– It is important for all of you, who ask all the time, but of course important for Erabi to score goals. He improves himself all the time, he wasn’t good at all in the first matches, but today he was good and sharp in the target game. It’s important to keep doing things right.
Nahir Besara:
– The goal difference will be important, the more we can score, the better. I had hoped for a bigger margin, but it is important to win, says the captain.
Besara: “Good value gauge for us”
Do you know all the scenarios?
– I was aware during the match as well. We tried to go for more goals. Of course we had respect for Sundsvall but I felt they were tired so we wanted to go for another goal.
What do you say about the ruling against Mjällby?
– Good team. They are hard to beat and good at defending themselves. I think it is a good measure of value for us.
Where are you in the process?
– I think we take steps all the time. We are not there yet, but if you are with us at the training sessions, you will see what Kim and his leadership team want to implement. There is a good faith in the future and I believe in it. It is important to get it done. Once it is in place, it will be fine for us.
