Last Monday, Mjällby secured the Allsvenskan gold against IFK Göteborg at Gamla Ullevi.
In the same arena, it looked for a long time like another yellow and black team would get to celebrate.
Häcken got a dream start in terms of play and created scoring opportunities non-stop. Adrian Svanbäck missed a free chance after just three minutes, and shortly afterwards, both Mikkel Ryggard and Pontus Dahbo slipped on the ball right in front of the away team's goalkeeper.
”Will do at least four”
Above all, they were sloppy and we had good pressing play. But there we have to be self-critical. We should do at least four in the first half, says Simon Gustafson after the match to Disney+.
Instead of a Häcken goal came the cold shower: 1–0 to Rayo Vallecano on a counterattack in the 15th minute of the match.
Despite the blow, Häcken continued to dominate the game in the first half, and when right-back Julius Lindberg slipped past the defense, the home team could finally open the goal protocol.
Ten minutes into the second half, the same Lindberg made a pass that Isak Brusberg utilized to make it 2–1.
But it was not over. Rayo Vallecano kept pushing and in the 102nd minute, the away team got a penalty after a VAR review. In connection with the decision, a big brawl broke out.
”Ping-pong journey”
It feels like every match you play in these tournaments can have anything happen. Both things that don't happen and things they conjure up. I don't know. It's a ping-pong journey in your head, says Gustafson.
When the players then calmed down, Andrei Ratiu scored 2–2 – which became the final result. The away players celebrated wildly and in connection with the celebration, an away player on the bench got a red card.
After two rounds in the Conference League, Häcken has two points.
