Nothing comes for free now that it's getting serious. Kalmar FF is playing for its existence in the top league, AIK for further advancement up the table, where the battle for medals and European games is going to be thrilling.
Form-strong AIK had a long time struggling to get the really sharp chances. It wasn't until a calculation error in Kalmar's penalty area that the winning goal came, four minutes into the second half.
Missed marking
Who marked Onni Valakari on Mads Døhr Thychosen's delicately slanted pass from the right flank?
No one.
The Finnish national team player, who came on loan from Cypriot Pafos as late as the end of August, got to nod in his first Allsvenskan goal – and a particularly important one.
I nodded in the direction the ball came from and I'm glad it went in. The most important thing was three points today, says Valakari to Max.
AIK hasn't lost in Allsvenskan since 0–1 at home against Gais on July 29. The result since then is six wins and one draw. It has meant a steady journey up the table.
Meetings between Kalmar FF and AIK usually are low-scoring. So too this one at Guldfågeln.
Romario's fine volley, which Kristoffer Nordfeldt with difficulty deflected to the corner, was for a long time Kalmar's best opportunity.
Burned giant chance
This was extremely close to 1–1: Romario's long shot hit the post, the rebound went out to Dion Krasniqi. Despite an open goal, the substitute kicked the ball a good bit over the crossbar. No wonder he took himself by the head.
Kalmar, with as many points (20) as qualifying spot-placed Halmstad, forced energetically in the end, but defensively stable AIK held out.
It required a real effort from us today, we had to play with heart. Everyone was tired, but it's football and we had the fans behind us, says Onni Valakari to Max.
In Saturday's late match, Brommapojkarna and Mjällby played goalless at Grimsta IP. A result that means AIK is the new four in the table on 39 points and Mjällby five on 38. BP is ten on 27 points.
