Falkenbergs changes conditions after victory against Djurgården

From: Henrik Lundgren

Published: 01 November 2020 kl. 21.03

FALKENBERG. Calculated at the bottom.

But Falkenberg’s landslide victory against Djurgården changes the situation.

– The team around us is probably having a bit of a hard time now. All the pressure is on them, now we have the world position, says Marcus Mathisen.

Photo: KRISTER ANDERSSON / BILDBYRÅN

That Falkenberg would have a good chance of winning the 2020 Allsvenskan Public League, absolutely no one believed last winter. And not many more people believed in the Allsvenskan game in 2021 for the Hallännings.

But after 3-2 against Djurgården, in front of 300 spectators, both pieces seem to have good chances to be fulfilled.

– Very important points here, at the same time that the teams around us lose points. Incredibly important, says Marcus Mathisen.

Falkenberg took the lead three times. Djurgården returned twice. But when Mathisen made it 3-2 with just over a quarter to play, “Blåränderna” didn’t have the strength to equalize again. The most psychological thing was that the three goals reached fixed situations.

– We are a physically strong team, we usually win the first quarter and then it’s the second ball that matters. And today we were able to time it perfectly.

Falkenberg has been stuck at the bottom for much of the season. But when Kalmar crossed over to Sirius and IFK Gothenburg lost to Örebro, they suddenly jumped into the rankings with four rounds to play. And just one point to IFK Gothenburg on the mainland.

– All the pressure is on them. Gothenburg lost today, it must be difficult for them. We’ll see if Helsingborg gets points tomorrow, but Malmö feels heavy. So now we have the position of the world, says Mathisen.

I got help from the audience

The landslide victory against former table runner-up Djurgården was not just a match that brought Falkenberg to the table. It was also the first Allsvenskan game this year to be played in front of an audience. 300 people, 150 on each long side, cheered up to catch up with the local players. Like the three strong home fans who hung from the fence off a short side and chanted almost constantly throughout the match.

– Haha, I always thought it was a police car that came with the siren on. But those guys helped us a lot.

What was it like playing in front of an audience again?

– Fun, incredibly fun to listen to them again. Maybe that’s what made us strong today. We listen to them all the time, before, during and after the game. When it was a bit heavy after Djurgården’s goal, they were the ones who shot us.

Published: 01 November 2020 kl. 21.03

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