Matchday 5: Hammarby vs Helsingborg IF 2-1

Well, if one man can personify a victor, a warrior indeed, it's the Man of the Match: Kristoffer "Poppen" Björklund. Jesus Christ, his savings in the second half were outstanding.

Hammarby started off best, with a quick goal after only 3 minutes by Paulinho Guará. Haris Laitinen was excellent on his left wing, especially in the first half, and Laitinen assisted Guará to that goal.

It was truly a strange match, because after the first goal Helsingborg took over the match with some really nice combinations. But since it's football, a would-have-been-logical goal for Helsingborg didn't come. Instead Petter Andersson could increase the lead with 2-0 in the 23:d minute. And again it's a left wing attack. Emil Johansson, wing back, drives the ball forward, passes in to the center where Laitinen touch the ball to Petter Andersson. Firing his big cannon, it's an absolute killer. From 30 meters, the ball is buried behind Helsingborg goal keeper Daniel Andersson.

Again, after that goal, Helsingborg take command of the match. And quite logical, they score 2-1 in the 40th minute. Henrik Larsson had one goal in the net; but he was offside.

I would lie if I'd say that the match was good from an Hammarby point of view after half time. Helsingborg just took over the match completely; we couldn't clear the ball or take hold of it for more than a few seconds. And in the 50 something minute Henrik Larsson scores, 2-2. EVERYONE THINKS! But he didn't, cause he was offside. So, Helsingborg holds up the pressure, and in the 78th minute, a penalty is given to Helsingborg and Henrik Larsson will take it. Disaster, but Hammarby goalkeeper Kristoffer Björklund had other plans for this night. Henrik Larsson shoots the ball hard right in the middle of the goal and Björklund saves! The stadium explodes like after a goal.

The referee saw fit to add 7 minutes to the ordinary 90, which made him...unpopular. But Hammarby cleared the storm, and thus managed to grab the 3 points. But the match wasn't good from our perspective, and Hammarby coach Tony Gustavsson has some things to ponder about until the next match vs Kalmar FF away.

Best in Hammarby: Kristoffer Björklund.

Lineup:

-----------------Björklund------------------
-Monteiro---Traoré---Sleyman-Johansson-
------------------Chanko-------------------
-Zengin---------Andersson--------Laitinen-
------------Davies-------Guará-------------

Subs: Mikkel Jensen, Sebastian Castro-Tello, Claudio Dadomo.