Malmö FF can enjoy two individual form peaks during the summer. Striker Antonio Colak had scored nine goals in the previous nine matches before resting in the last round against Mjällby. Then Veljko Birmancevic stepped forward and scored his sixth Allsvenskan goal, setting the final score at 0-2.
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During this week’s return match in the Champions League qualifier against HJK Helsinki, Colak went goalless for the first time in July. But at the position 1-1 on the away field, the substitute Birmancevic arranged a lead-heavy lead goal. HJK got a draw a couple of minutes later, but MFF went on with 4-3 in total and meet Scottish Rangers in the third qualifying round.
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The goal was Birmancevic’s seventh in 14 appearances since moving to MFF in March. He shares second place in the shooting league with Degerfors Victor Edvardsen, Hammarby’s Gustav Ludwigson, Häcken’s Alexander Jeremejeff and Christian Kouakou in Sirius.
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Colak and IFK Norrköping’s Samuel Adegbenro lead the shooting league on seven goals each. Together with Djurgården’s Magnus Eriksson, the two MFF acquisitions have been nominated for the award for the best player of the month in the Allsvenskan.
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What do you think about the progress in the shooting league?
– I am pleased and I thank God that I have approached the top of the shooting league. It’s nice to be up there with a teammate, and we can compete with each other on who achieves the most goals. It is clear that they want to reach as many goals as possible and that they will lead to wins for the team, says Veljko Birmancevic.
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Have you started talking to Antonio about approaching him?
– No, because basically everyone says that we scored many goals together, because we came here at the same time. You could say that it is something of an achievement, as we have barely played half the season and many matches remain. Together we have 17 goals and some assists between us, and have thus been involved in many goals. That is how we look at it, not what we have accomplished individually.
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With five goals in the last five matches – most as substitutes as well – there is no doubt that left-hander Birmancevic has in a short time developed into an audience favorite at Eleda Stadium.
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– In recent weeks I have played well and I want to continue even stronger, to show that this is no coincidence. I want to continue at my own pace and to show as much as possible of my quality – and the reason why I was recruited – to bring great results to the club, says Birmancevic.
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Have people started stopping you on the street?
– Yes, it is clear that congratulations always come after goals. The latest was my first in the European qualifiers and means a lot as I never played a Champions League qualifier before I came here. On the other hand, it means a lot to the fans that we have already secured games in at least the Conference League group stage. We can go into the next two games with a little less pressure on us, and slowly start preparing for the match against Rangers.
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Malmö FF tops the Allsvenskan two points ahead of Djurgården, who have the chance to go over during the match against Häcken on Sunday. Since MFF’s meeting with Elfsborg was played at the end of May, both teams are ready to play this weekend.
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