With 2-0 in the back from the first meeting at home, Malmö traveled down to Bulgaria and Ludogorets with air under their wings. As long as the Skåne team would not lose by more than a goal margin, participation in the Champions League group stage would be secured.
But Malmö got the worst possible start. Already after nine minutes, Anton Nedjalkov sent in Ludogoret’s first corner of the match and the hunt was on.
However, Malmö would respond within a few minutes when Sören Rieks nicely placed in 1-1 – he thought.
After a long VAR review, it turned out that Anders Christiansen was just offside shortly before the goal and the goal was thus ruled out.
But the receipt would come. Vejlko Birmancevic sent in a free kick, via the wall to 1-1 just before half time.
Shortly before the equalizer came, however, Malmö was forced to replace goalkeeper Johan Dahlin due to injury. This meant that the new acquisition Ismael Diawara had to make her first minutes in the Malmö shirt.
– He could have had an easier start perhaps, absolutely. But he had to make a very nice save quite quickly even if it was called offside. I think it helped him. It was stable and good, says sports director Daniel Andersson in Cmore.
– We do not know much. We’ll see. Very boring. It’s fun for Ismael to get in, but we’ll see in the next few days, he says about Dahlin’s injury forecast.
Diawara began promisingly, but he too would see himself outwitted.
After a new VAR review, Ludogorets was awarded a penalty barely a quarter into the second half. A penalty that Pieros Sotiriou managed and gave Ludogorets the lead again.
But despite a massive home advantage, Ludogorets did not manage to bring anything more – and Malmö FF is ready for the Champions League group game.
– Fantastic. Wonderfully. It’s magical. All my life I have dreamed about this. I’m just proud of the team and the whole club that gives us the best conditions to be able to perform, says a teary-eyed Anders Christiansen in Cmore. We try to pay back to the club, the supporters and to the players. It’s absolutely amazing.
The place in the group stage gives Malmö at least SEK 190 million.
–
