In Andreas Johansson’s 431st Allsvenskan match (most Allsvenskan players of all time together with Sven Andersson), Halmstads BK got off to a flying start against Västerås SK away from home. Because the match barely had time to start before the ball club took the lead and it was a strange goal. The ball took a jumble on a corner and then VSK players Fredervic Nsabiyumva and Jabir Abdihakim Ali went on the same ball. It ended in one big mess, after which Phil Ofosu-Ayeh was able to head in 1-0 from close range.
After the goal, VSK led the game and the home team had a bid for an equaliser. However, without getting the ball into the net.
With a few minutes left until the break, Simon Johansson got free with Tim Erlandsson. It was a situation in which the HBK keeper responded with a sharp save.
The score was 1-0 at the break.
– The first 10-15 are a bit tentative, then I think we grow into the match and take over. We create some really good situations. The end of the first is really good. It’s just the goals that are missing, VSK’s Marcus Linday told Discovery+ during the break.
HBK’s Amir Al-Ammari thought the first act was “okay”, but said the away team needed to play offensively.
– We have to improve it, we are not satisfied. We can’t keep defending like this all the time. We must have our own game. Then it is important that everyone is active and wants the ball, they go man-to-man in their pressure. They step and there are surfaces both in front and behind them, he said in Discovery+.
Shortly after the break, Simon Johansson headed a cross into the backfield. It bounced badly for Erlandsson, who had to stretch out and tip it over the crossbar. After that, the home team created several opportunities to equalize.
With just over 60 minutes on the clock, VSK had a ball that danced on the goal line after a tangled situation. Maybe it was even over, because that’s what the protesting home players thought. The assistant referee, however, waved in disapproval.
– It has been frustrating in every match. It’s not that big of a difference. But it looks very close, to say the least. But it doesn’t matter what the odds look like. We have had rough situations in all matches and we have burned the chances we create, says VSK’s manager Kalle Karlsson to Discovery+ when he gets to see the situation.
With a quarter of an hour left, VSK received a penalty. After a messy situation, Erlandsson dived for the ball in a duel with Jabir Abdihakim Ali and referee Kristoffer Karlsson pointed to the penalty spot. Abdihakim Ali burned the golden chance by slamming the ball into the crossbar.
VSK had created additional dangers, But the newcomer had despaired of managing them.
The match ended 1-0 to the team from Halland.
– We are extremely happy about the three points, says HBK’s manager Magnus Haglund.
Haglund calls the match “long”.
– We start the match well and the first 15-20 minutes in the first are sharp. We create corners, score goals and have other situations that are interesting. Then VSK plays well and they have played well in all matches. They get a good flow in their game and we can’t catch them. We struggle a lot and we are not good enough when we get hold of the ball. But we win on morale and that we are good at defending, even if VSK gets chances. In addition, we have a good goalkeeper.
HBK has now played a total of six points in the first three games. Västerås SK has three straight defeats.
Startelvor:
Västerås SK: Fagerström – Magnusson, Nsabiyumva, Douglas – Gefvert, Linday, Åslund, Larsson – Johansson, Abdihakim Ali, Ahlinvi.
Halmstads BK: Erlandsson – Ofosu-Ayeh, Baffoe, Johansson, Nogueirua – Ingason, Ahlstrand, Svedberg, Al-Ammari – Granath, Moahmmed.
