There are certain occasions that are better suited than others when it comes to opening the season's goal account. Just ask Värnamo's full-back Albin Lohikangas.
The full-back scored his first goal in 545 days when he scored the only goal in the decisive qualifying match between Värnamo and Landskrona BoIS.
The last goal came on May 29, 2023, against Hammarby.
I score a goal a year, so I saved it until now. I felt it was needed, he says to Max.
Goal-scarce at Borås arena
It became, despite the importance of the match, a rather tight story at Borås arena where the match was played due to the frozen pitch in Värnamo.
Chances were created initially, but neither team managed to score the first goal.
Until Lohikangas stepped forward in the 37th minute.
A long ball reached Gustaf Engvall, who headed the ball to Albin Lohikangas, who could knock it in from close range.
1–0 to the home team was a fact, and a goal that would prove to be decisive for both the match and the double meeting.
Thus, Värnamo retains its Allsvenskan spot after 3–2 overall, while Landskrona BoIS will return to Superettan next season.
"Incredibly tough season"
To be honest, it's a bit the same feeling as when we went up to Allsvenskan a few years ago. It's been an incredibly tough season, in so many different ways. But what a fine group we have to work with, says Värnamo's Freddy Winsth to Max and continues:
No matter how it looks around us, we fight and come back. We get to play at Borås Arena half of our home matches, it feels like. But I'm starting to like this arena now.
Värnamo has had a turbulent season. After firing the coach in August, the club also lost sports manager Enes Ahmetovic, who left for Örebro a few days later.
Now it's clear that the club can prepare for its fourth consecutive season in Allsvenskan.
