Published 2024-03-10 16.13
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MALMÖ. IFK Norrköping shocked Malmö FF with 1–0 after two minutes.
Then MFF took over everything. Two goals each from Sebastian Jörgensen and Taha Ali gave a 5–2 overrun.
– A dream came true, says premier goalscorer Erik Botheim to TV4.
MFF, with last year’s all-svenskan top scorer Isaac Kiese Thelin pushed to the bench, was the big favorite in the quarter-finals of the Swedish Cup at home against IFK Norrköping at Eleda Stadium.
But it was the visitors who surprised the home team right away.
On a lift from behind, Carl Björk stayed in front when the MFF central defense with Pontus Jansson and Derek Cornelius hesitated.
Björk could cleanly roll in 1-0 already in the second minute past Johan Dahlin in the Malmö goal.
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1 / 2Photo: Christian Örnberg / Bildbyrån
Malmö FF responded quickly after the nightmare start. In the 15th minute, Lasse Berg Johnsen hit a nice short stick behind the Norrköping defense and freed Sebastian Jörgensen, who bumped in 1-1 at the far post.
MFF had a big advantage in play and ball possession but without so many hot chances.
The newly acquired Erik Botheim, in the number 9 role, got a great position a bit into the second half (58), went on his own finish outside when at the same time Sebastian Nanasi was completely clean to pass.
But a moment later, the Norwegian showed what he is signed for. Substitute Taha Ali released the ball to Gabriel Busanello whose cross was headed into the goal from close range by Botheim to make it 2–1 (72).
Five minutes later, Sebastian Jörgensen decided definitively with his second goal of the afternoon to make it 3-1 (77) played by Sebastian Nanasi who received the ball from Bothheim.
4–1 (82) was a minor solo performance from substitute Taha Ali when MFF drove over Norrköping in the second half. In added time, Norrköping’s jumper, the former MFF player, reduced Tim Prica to 4–2 with a beautiful finish from distance.
Taha Ali also became a two-goal scorer (90+4) when he rolled in the final score 5–2 in an empty net when Beijing goalkeeper Oscar Jansson was up to try to reduce a corner.
In the semifinals, Malmö FF meets Halmstads BK at Örjans Vall next Saturday. In the second, on Sunday, AIK-Djurgården meet.
Afterwards, new signing Erik Botheim was very happy after scoring his first goal in Malmö FF.
– It was a dream that came true. I was really excited to score after my previous miss, says the Norwegian to TV4.
On the competition with Isaac Kiese Thelin, Botheim says:
– It is a strength. We have a lot of very, very good players. I hope we can play together more because he is a very good player.
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full screen Photo: Christian Örnberg / Bildbyrån
