Two matches into the final series, both teams seem to have identified the main threats to each other. In the third, it was thus new names that were decisive in the match.
Ystad duo Kim Andersson and Hampus Karlsson had scored 11 goals each before the match. Karlsson started the season as number two on left-hand sex. But since Jim Andersson was forced to end his career due to concussion problems, the 21-year-old has made a comet career.
For Skövde’s part, most of it has been about Viktor Hallén (12 goals) and Bjarni Valdimarsson (11), but both had a hard time finding their way into the same game as in the first matches.
One who, on the other hand came in better than before was Skövde’s Danish midfielder, Matias Helt Jepsen, who with four goals in the first half paved the way for a jump start from Skövde’s side.
– I think we come in with more energy and I get better into the match, says Helt Jepsen to C More in the half.
This to the great delight of the large home crowd. Not a single chair seemed to be empty in the arena.
But despite a high pressure from Skövde, Ystad really bit away. The team was seven seconds from taking home the second final match as well, but lost the victory in overtime.
In Skövde, they were looking for revenge.
After a tight first half, the home team went to the break with 16-14.
The fight continued in the second half. The bangs alternated and it is probably not wrong to assume that the bruises are visible even in a couple of days.
Skövde went from to a five-goal lead, but then Niklas Kraft stepped forward. The Ystad goalkeeper was responsible for a free-kick save after a free-kick save and with ten minutes left in the match, Ystad had turned the match into a two-goal lead.
Skövde could not turn it around and Ystad could win 31-27.
As if the loss were not enough, Skövde’s accident was doubled when Valdimarsson in the final minutes suffered a feared knee injury when one foot slipped away for the Icelander.
Ystad now has a match ball ahead of the fourth final match which will be played on Friday in Skåne.