When Djurgården played for the first time in the Europa Conference League group stage, many probably raised their eyebrows at the opposition.
The Stockholm team went to Ireland to face Shamrock Rovers.
But for the die-hard football lover, it is also a familiar opposition.
A little more than twenty years ago, the teams met in the qualifiers for what was then the Uefa Cup. That time there was sound and jubilation as Djurgården defeated Shamrock Rovers 3–1. This time it was goalless
Djurgården was in command in the first half and looked like the better team. But the really dangerous goalscoring chances did not materialize.
— We start well, then they take over. They had the ball but were not dangerous in the first half at all. But we don’t take care of the ball as we usually do, says Haris Radetinac to Viaplay.
One leg away
By far the best scoring chance of the half came after Gustav Wikheim passed diagonally backwards after a corner variation to Besard Sabovic. The 24-year-old tried his luck from distance but the finish landed on the legs of a sacrificing defender. The goalkeeper looked completely overplayed so it could indeed have resulted in a lead goal for Djurgården.
The second half never really got up to par either. If anything, Shamrock played up a notch and got some wind in its sails.
Kim Bergstrand and Thomas Lagerlöf therefore chose to replace four players, including captain Magnus Eriksson.
Vasyutin savior in need
With twenty minutes left to play, Aleksandr Vasyutin had to declare his colors properly in the Djurgården goal.
Substitute Rasmus Schüller and Hjalmar Ekdal, with the captain’s armband on his arm, sloppy in the defensive play and gave Dylan Watts a great position to give the home team the lead.
But Vasyutin was quickly out and made a fine save.
The match ended 0–0 and Djurgården gets to return home to Sweden with a point. Notably, Gent and Molde, the other teams in the group, also played 0–0.
— We came here to win, but at the same time it doesn’t feel like we’re getting up to par. At times it is good but not enough to take three points, says Radetinac.
The next match for Djurgården in the Conference League will be played next Thursday against Molde at home.