GÖTEBORG, Sweden — Djurgården snatched all three points against IFK Göteborg with a 2-1 victory at Gamla Ullevi on May 12. Santeri Haarala shone brightest, scoring and assisting, helping his team secure the win.
Right from the start of the match, it was Haarala who sparked action. Just five minutes in, he skillfully maneuvered past Björsbacken Anders Trondsen to set up Tokmac Nguen, who delivered a precise finish into the net. This early goal set the tone for the match.
In the second half, after the game was tied 1-1, Haarala struck again. In the 78th minute, he reacted quickly to pounce on a rebound from a shot by Tobias Gulliksen, sealing the game at 2-1. “It was not the prettiest, but it was a crucial goal,” Haarala expressed during a post-match interview on Max Sport.
Meanwhile, Djurgården’s Marcus Danielson faced a challenging moment when he inadvertently scored an own goal, redirecting Imam Jagne’s cross into his own net, marking his fifth own goal of the 2000s, a record for Djurgården.
Before the halftime whistle, controversy erupted when Jagne’s cross appeared to strike Isak Alemayehus’s hand, leading to protests for a penalty. Referee Adam Ladeback opted to not award the penalty, a decision discussed among the players. “It’s hard to make those calls. The referees have instructed that not to blow for handballs in cross situations. But he could have called it,” remarked expert commentator Nordin Gerzic during the match.
Though Djurgården led, they struggled to maintain consistent pressure in the second half. “We didn’t really put together a strong second half and invited them back into the game. Overall, we deserved at least one point today,” said IFK Göteborg’s August Erlingmark, reflecting on the match.
Following this victory, Djurgården climbed to sixth place in the league standings, albeit with one game fewer played, while IFK Göteborg found themselves in eleventh place. The match showcased the resilience of Djurgården amidst a challenging season with eleven players on the injury list.
As the league continues, both teams will look to gather momentum moving forward, with Djurgården aiming to capitalize further on this victory and Göteborg seeking to regroup.
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