Over 20,000 spectators in the stands, occasionally sunny and around 17 degrees in the air. Then the final of the Swedish Cup between Malmö FF and Häcken mostly dealt with black headlines.
Already after 45 seconds the game was stopped at the stadium in Malmö. Home supporters had pulled up the safety net in front of the standing section, which made referee Glenn Nyberg order the players off the pitch.
Jansson mediated
The injured MFF defender Pontus Jansson went down to the section to talk sense and after a team meeting the final got underway again – about half an hour after the scheduled kick-off time.
MFF captain Anders Christiansen did not want to review the audience's behavior.
We do not know what happens, but it was an incredible pressure before the match and then there is a 20-minute break. It ruins a bit, but I do not think you saw it on the pitch, says the Dane.
Hardly two hours later, the match was hit by a new break. With only 30 seconds left to play of the added time, the players left the grass again after objects were thrown onto the pitch when Häcken's Silas Andersen went off the sideline after receiving treatment for an injury.
This time the break was short and after a half-minute of football, he blew the whistle for an extension of two times 15 minutes.
It was a stupid break for our part because I think we are pushing. They got the opportunity to gather strength, then the extension was bad football-wise for both teams. It's so damn stupid that such things happen and that there are breaks in the match, says.
Andersen applauded towards the audience at the incident and it should also have been a bit in the player tunnel.
I'm probably of the opinion that you must be allowed to show feelings. You get to do that. Then I do not know why there was turmoil in the player tunnel, says Rydström.
Fourth cup gold
The reigning cup champion MFF had been closest to deciding during regular time and dominated even in the extension, but Häcken could hold out for a decisive penalty shootout.
Häcken took its first historic cup gold on the men's side via a penalty shootout against just MFF on away ground in 2016.
Now it became a new cup gold – the fourth total – for the Hisings team after winning on penalties with 4–2.
