Djurgården travelled to Gothenburg for a vital match, still in the fight for the Swedish Championship title. The Stockholm side needed a win to close the gap on league leaders Sirius and Hammarby.
The match was stopped after just one minute when pyrotechnics in the stands filled the field with smoke, creating a thick fog.
Put early pressure on
Once play resumed, however, it was the home side, IFK Göteborg, who had the upper hand, and Djurgården goalkeeper Jacob Rinne had to be at his best.
Once, twice and then a third time, Blåvitt striker Alexander Simmelhack tried to beat Rinne, but without success.
But in the 40th minute, IFK Göteborg finally got its reward - and the goalscorer was a familiar face.
Djurgården’s on-loan midfielder Nino Zugelj cut inside and fired a perfect shot with five minutes left before half-time. Djurgården goalkeeper Jacob Rinne had no chance and was finally beaten.
“Of course I’m going to celebrate”
It was not a cautious celebration. The Slovenian roared with joy after scoring his third goal in the blue-and-white shirt.
It just happened, I didn’t think much about it. I scored, of course I’m going to celebrate, Zugelj told TV4 Play during the break, and continued:
It’s a little different. I know the guys (in Djurgården), but in the end it’s football. I have to do my best for my team.
In the second half, the game swung back and forth, and Djurgården equalised through Bo Hegland. The Norwegian scoring machine headed in a cross from the left and extended his lead at the top of the Allsvenskan scoring charts.
No more goals were scored at Gamla Ullevi, and Djurgården dropped hugely important points in the Allsvenskan title race.
They are now six points behind Sirius with four rounds remaining. Sirius also have a game in hand. IFK Göteborg are ninth.
The men’s Swedish Championship title race:
- Sirius, 55 points, +24 goal difference
Remaining matches: Hammarby (away 29/10), Halmstad (home 3/11), Kalmar (away 8/11), Djurgården (home 22/11), IFK Göteborg (away 29/11).
- Hammarby, 49 points, +31
Remaining matches: Sirius (home 29/10), Malmö FF (away 1/11), Elfsborg (home 6/11), IFK Göteborg (home 23/11), Västerås (away 29/11).
- Djurgården, 49 points, +29
Remaining matches: Degerfors (home 1/11), Halmstad (away 8/11), Sirius (away 22/11), Häcken (home 29/11).
