Hammarby vs Sundsvall 5-3

In this home premiere, a battered Sundsvall stood as opponents. In their first game, Helsingborg won 3-0 in Sundsvall's home arena. Sundsvall were out for revenge, and the first half was mostly theirs.

But Hammarby started off well. In the 12th minute, Petter Andersson won the ball on central offensive half. He advanced to the right, rounded the defenders and struck well at the far post. 1-0 to Hammarby, and the 12 800 spectators were more than happy. But shortly after that goal, Hammarby starts to relax. And in football, that's never a good sign. Just minutes after the first goal, Sundsvall equalize. Hammarby defense never manage to clear the ball, and the Sundsvall striker did no mistake. After 30 minutes a nightmare unfolds. It's Petter Andersson that try to dribble on the mid field, but looses the ball. A Sundsvall midfielder looks up and see that goalkeeper Rami Shaaban is outside the goal area. He strikes the ball, and even though Rami touches the ball with his fingertips, Sundsvall manage to take the lead. Total silence on Söderstadion. Hammarby didn't seem to manage to get the play together. But, luckily for us, just before half time Charlie Davies breaks loose to the left in opponents goal area. He passes to the center where Erkan Zengin receive the ball. He spins around and shoot the ball in the net. 2-2 and Hammarby is stung at half time.

I don't know what Hammarby coach Tony Gustavsson said at half time, but it worked. Hammarby came out and completely hammered Sundsvall. A couple of minutes after half time, Louay Chanko find Paulinho Guará at the far post. With a distinctive header he take the lead back to Hammarby. Hammarby plays very well throughout the second half, but it's not until the 80th minute that Haris Laitinen take a shot from center offensive half, and buries the ball behind the Sundsvall goalkeeper. And just minutes after, Charlie Davies break loose from his closest defender. He dribbles the goalkeeper, moves to the right and hammer the ball behind the keeper. It's 5-2, and Hammarby is putting up a grand performance.

The victory is somewhat stained at the end, as Sundsvall manage to score 5-3. Four Hammarby defenders is just bystanders as the Sundsvall striker get lots of time to aim, and it's out of reach for Shaaban.

There's no doubt that Hammarby truly hammered Sundsvall tonight. Even though Hammarby was shook after Sundsvall's 1-2, the sense was that Hammarby would manage to come back. And they did! But the Hammarby defense must be sharpened, as we now enter a very hectic period with many matches in a short period of time. On thursday it's GAIS away, and next monday, April 14th, we take on AIK at home (away, really, the match is played at Råsunda Arena. They say that our arena is not that safe for Derby's to be played).

League leaders!