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Djurgården striker Magnus Eriksson felt they deserved more, given the playing advantage in the final stages of the match.
– We created a lot, and it seemed like we had the second one in progress. Instead, they got 2-1. Now we have to try to go for it (European place) in the final round, Eriksson told Dplay.
Djurgården was well aware that Mjällby at table seven would be a tough opponent. Especially since Mjällby still had a microscopic opportunity to compete for the two European places that are still open.
In addition, the game was played on natural grass. And DIF met a strong Mjällby, who won the last three games, with zero intact.
The fears were justified. Already after a quarter, Mjällby was in the lead. A well-placed corner kick from Joel Nilsson was followed by a hard but accurate header from Jacob Bergström.
Question mark here for Djurgården’s defense. Neither Elliot Käck, Jacob Une Larsson or Erik Berg picked up Bergström as he ran in front of goal.
With the base in a low and crowded defensive game, Mjällby continued to present abrupt changes. More than half of the field, they were constantly filled with players and thus put pressure on Djurgården’s defense.
After 35 minutes of play it was very close to Mjällby increasing his lead. You won the ball at the top of the field and could launch a wide attack. Moses Ogbu hit a good free kick inside the area. But Djurgårds goalkeeper Tommy Vaiho was big and managed to save with his left hand. A stop that in that situation kept Djurgården in the game.
Difficult situation at half-time for Djurgården. No one could have avoided hearing the Strandvallen speaker report on the objectives at the Häcken – Örebro meeting. And there the biggest competitor for the European place, Häcken, led 3-0.
Djurgården was present in other words, he had to bet everything on a single card to turn the game around in the second half. Otherwise Europaplatsen ran the risk of running away.
Djurgården needed to threaten in depth, to find his way behind parts of Mjällby’s team. And to speed up the offense, coaching duo Kim Bergstrand and Thomas Lagerlöf chose to add Magnus Eriksson in place of Curtis Edwards immediately after the break.
A stroke of luck, it would turn out. Magnus Eriksson had only been on the field for eight minutes when he pushed the tie between goalkeeper Carljohan Eriksson’s legs. The ball touched David Löfquist’s coverage on the road, which meant Mjällby’s other defenders were in the wrong position and lost to Magnus Eriksson.
Djurgården pushed for a goal lead. But he was punished with Mjällby’s counterattack.
Ten minutes late The equalizer, Djurgården took a free kick slightly outside of his own penalty area. The ball was lifted, Erik Berg cleared it. But there was Moses Ogbu, who maneuvered himself into position, and finished with the left post inside.
With just over 20 minutes to go and a 1-2 deficit, Djurgården’s coaching duo were forced to act again. Out with Kalle Holmberg and Edward Chilufya. With Nicklas Bärkroth and Emir Kujovic. Also, Haris Radetinac had to change the edge, from left to right.
Djurgården was tough in the final stages of the match. Mjällby was just cleaning, and that was good.
Mjällby’s victory means advancement to fifth place in the table.
