Despite playing with one man for more than half a game, the excitement is alive before the return in Reykjavik.
On paper, Malmö FF was the favorite. But qualifying matches are tricky and in advance, captain Anders Christiansen had been clear that the players would not take the match as a “walk in the park”.
Last year, MFF beat Riga FC in the first qualifying round of the Champions League. But it was with difficulty (2-1 in total). When now also the star striker Isaac Kiese Thelin was missing and the game in the Allsvenskan jammed, there were a lot of question marks to straighten out.
Back in play since the bottom line away against Sundsvall, 1-2, were experienced trio Ola Toivonen, Niklas Moisander and Dennis Hadzikadunic.
It did not take more than two and a half minutes before the former, served by Jo Inge Berget, nodded close outside the goalkeeper’s right post.
But the first to get the ball in the net was the Icelanders. What many thought was the visitors’ lead goal was ruled out for offside and instead the home team could only two minutes later take the lead through Martin Olsson, whose shot touched a back and set the goalkeeper. The goal was Olsson’s first in the sky blue jersey.
In the 38th minute of the match came the cold shower – an equalizer.
But it was followed of chaotic scenes.
In the celebration, the goal scorer Kristall Máni Ingason hushed the MFF heel. The reaction became strong and the mood excited. The 20-year-old was warned by the judge about the gesture. The warning was the outsider’s second for the match and he was thus shown out.
Ola Toivonen did not wait to take advantage of the numerical advantage and nodded just four minutes later in 2-1.
With one more man on the field, Malmö was allowed in the second half to take over more and more of the game, and in the 83rd minute also came 3-1. Sebastian Nanasi appeared on cue near the post, and steered it past the goalie.
But the home team golden starting position was not quite so good. In overtime, the substitute reduced Helgi Gudjonsson.
Malmö FF leads 3-2 before the return which is played in Reykjavik next Tuesday. Then, of course, Vikingur lacks Ingason and thus perhaps his foremost offensive weapon. But in Malmö, Vikingur showed that they can score goals anyway.