Saturday's match at Strandvallen was Mjällby's first Allsvenskan appearance in front of their home crowd since celebrating their historic Swedish Championship title last fall. After the clear opening loss to Hammarby, the majority of the 3,884 spectators were hoping to see their team's championship form intact. Not least considering that Mjällby had impressed earlier in the spring by reaching the upcoming final of the Swedish Cup.
But it didn't turn out as the home crowd had hoped.
"Tough. The margins that went our way last year are going a little against us now," says Mjällby coach Karl Marius Aksum.
Örgryte, who cruised against Malmö FF in their Allsvenskan return, showed a counterattacking ability that Mjällby had difficulty dealing with. The first chance was saved by the home team's goalkeeper Robin Wallinder, but on the next occasion, team captain Anton Andreasson put Örgryte in the lead.
"We had talked about how good they are at counterattacking. The balance in our team is too poor when they can counterattack so easily against us," says Jesper Gustavsson.
Örgryte extended
And when Jerome Tibbling followed up fairly immediately to make it 2–0, the Mjällby players were put under pressure.
Already at halftime, Aksum made two substitutions and soon Mjällby increased the offensive pressure against an Örgryte that "parked the bus" in front of its goalkeeper Hampus Gustafsson.
"They do well in their own box, blocking shots. All credit to them," says Gustavsson.
Mjällby, whose squad includes a significant core from last year's title-winning team that also recorded a new record of 75 points scored in a season, created several clear scoring chances. But the payoff was not realized.
"The fact that we didn't score in the second half is unbelievable. It wasn't our day today, it was Örgryte's day," says Aksum.
“Very proud”
Örgryte's first Allsvenskan victory since 2009 was celebrated with a large crowd of jubilant supporters.
"I'm very proud, of course," says the newly promoted coach Andreas Holmberg.
Last season, Mjällby did not lose a single Allsvenskan match at home at Strandvallen. Next Saturday they will host Brommapojkarna.
"A little better at the back and then we have to make sure we score goals going forward," says Jesper Gustavsson.
