Both Häcken and Gais had 42 points before Sunday's Gothenburg derby, seventh and eighth in the Allsvenskan table respectively.
Since IFK Göteborg is simultaneously struggling at the bottom and risks having to qualify, a potential derby winner would take a big step towards becoming the best in town this year.
Gais took the chance.
But it was Häcken that, not entirely logically, took the lead in the 17th minute, after Gais had started the match best. Amor Layouni was given too much space to meet a cross and headed the ball into the net with a volley in front of the home crowd on Hisingen, making it 1-0.
It didn't feel entirely logical either when the visitors, dressed in white for the day, came back, in a situation where Häcken had been the sharper team.
Alexander Ahl Holmström headed in the equalizer, 1-1, late in the first half. And when the second half was barely five minutes old, the turnaround was complete – Amin Boudri scored 2-1.
When we come out in the second half, I think we make a really good effort. We're defensively solid, follow the game plan, shut down all spaces and make it hard for Häcken, says Gais defender Harun Ibrahim to Max.
"Gais is the best in town" sang the away crowd after the final whistle, but one more point is required to completely secure a spot on the football throne in Gothenburg. The new table sixth will conclude the season at home against Sirius at Gamla Ullevi next weekend. Häcken will conclude away against second-to-last Kalmar.
