A rather bland first half at Norrporten arena was not directly selling advertising for Allsvenskan football.
Saku Ylätupa’s nod was one of the few really sharp opportunities, but Sundsvall’s main goal scorer was stopped by a vigilant Samuel Brolin who pushed the ball away.
If it was initially a bit so and so with the knowledge of “Giffarna” there was nothing wrong with the attitude.
Or as team captain Daniel Stensson pointed out during the break:
– It’s about showing a little fucking embrace. I like the embers out there and it’s just to continue like that, he told Discovery +.
Stensson was hot, a little too hot at times. The yellow card early in the second half means that he is suspended against IFK Gothenburg in the next match, the last before the national team break.
Mjällby’s coach Andreas Brännström wanted to see faster transfers and better movement in the last 45. The players did not offer that much of the goods.
On the other hand, a solid situation was close to breaking zero in tonight’s only Allsvenskan match, but via Oscar Jonsson’s fingertips, David Löfquist dotted the post.
Goalkeeper colleague Brolin had to make a sharp parade on Rasmus Lindkvist’s left shot halfway through the half and so far the home team’s most dangerous chance.
That gave Sundsvall a corner – and captain Stensson got paid for his attitude when he nodded in the lead goal.
The entertainment value rose significantly. With seven minutes left, Erik Andersson secured the second three-pointer of the season when he hit the rebound on his own post shot.
– Now we are on square 1 again. All matches are a final and today we won. We focus on keeping zero and worked from there. That I got to score goals is just a bonus, says Daniel Stensson.
The victory means that Sundsvall steps past both Helsingborg and Degerfors and now holds the qualifying spot.
In Mjällby it was less cheerful after a really tame effort.
– It is for simple goals we let in. It is generally too bad, says Mjällby’s midfielder Jesper Gustavsson to Discovery +.