The rain clouds drew in over the summer evening in eastern Värmland and it looked increasingly gloomy for the second-placed Degerfors in the football hall Swedish.
The tenth loss of the season was almost complete – but the clouds passed and in the 94th minute Justin Salmon put 1-1, after which he collapsed and had to be carried off the field.
– It did not look good but I hope it is good with the boy. We do not give up. We are fighting to the last, Tobias Solberg told Discovery.
“Punishing us”
Second goalkeeper Jeffrey Gal made his first match from the start of the season and was forced to pick the ball out of the net after just five minutes.
Jonathan Levi’s right corner bounced through the entire penalty area to left back Viktor Agardius, who put 1-0 for Norrköping.
– We can not stand and sleep. We need to be sharper on fixed situations, Gal told Discovery.
It was the ninth time this season that Degerfors conceded a goal in the first quarter. That is one goal less than the Värmlands in total achieved in the other direction.
“It punishes us with all early goals,” said Gal.
It was not easy for Degerfors to get back in the match when the team’s clearly the best goal scorer was placed on the bench. Abdelrahman Saidi has scored five goals this year but is said to be about to sign for league rival Hammarby soon.
– There have been a lot of rumors about him and something will probably happen one day, Tobias Solberg said.
Degerfors also missed the suspended duo Christos Gravius and Joe Gyau.
“At the right place”
Norrköping came to Stora Valla without a head injury Christoffer Nyman and with four straight games without a win. The successful start was beneficial.
– It is important. It makes our self-confidence better, said the 1-0 shooter Agardius.
Vänsterbacken, who has been plagued with major injury concerns and made his third match of the season, managed the early free position in the best way.
– I’m going to get on the far post so I’m in the right place, he said.
Norrköping became very passive in the second half and let the home team dominate the match picture. Degerfors crept closer and closer to the guests’ goal with the ball under control – and in the end the equalizer came.