With only two wins in the last seven matches and 2–2 against bottom team Värnamo on Thursday, the reigning champions Malmö FF had lost ground in the football Allsvenskan table.
Then MFF coach Henrik Rydström chose to bench goalkeeper Ricardo Friedrich, 32, and instead bet on homegrown Melker Ellborg against Halmstad.
Finish or input?
In his first Allsvenskan match in his career, Ellborg – who turns 22 on Thursday – thanked for the trust by keeping a clean sheet against the bottom team.
I only feel joy. Fantastic fun, says the goalkeeper to Max.
He was not bombarded with shots, but in the 28th minute, the Malmö goalkeeper made a brilliant save when Yannick Agnero shot from afar. Ellborg had misjudged his position, but dived down and saved it with his right hand.
They have some chances and it's probably me who creates those chances, he says with a grin.
I'll learn from that I come out wrong. It's new audience for me and I'll probably learn to shout louder, he continues.
Three minutes later, MFF's lead goal fell instead. Midfield engine Anders Christiansen received the ball just inside the penalty area and easily placed it behind Tim Erlandsson in the away goal.
Just before the break, it was also 2–0 when Otto Rosengren's input was steered into the goal via a Halmstad leg.
Four points behind AIK
Halmstad's team captain Joel Allansson thought it was coincidences that MFF led with two balls after the first half.
We need to score the first goal in the second half so that we're in the game, says Allansson.
That didn't happen. In the 63rd minute, striker Isaac Kiese Thelin nodded in 3–0 for Malmö and the three points were definitely secured.
MFF has 18 points left as fifth in a stagnant table. Up to series-leading AIK, it's now four points apart. On Thursday, the two teams meet in Malmö.
