Victory home 3-2 against IFK Norrköping

The game started a little bit slowly, with many missed passes in the middle. MAIF was however most dangerous, with already 3 shots at the goal in the 1st quarter. Norrköping on the other hand did not manage to get through our defense, and blew away the few occasions where they did. But too many missed passes, a too easily read game lead to Norrköping actually opening the score on their 1st occasion. But MAIF players did not lower their arms and continued to push. Many alerts around Norrköpings goal, notably Johan's kick from the left side on the 2nd pole, we all see it in but it bounces back out.
Then came MAIF's 1st goal: free-kick from the right, Hirsa head at the 1st pole but it touches the bar (again!), goes on to Simon's head now, who adjusts it in. Norrköping's joy did not last long, and this goal kind of cut their legs a bit. A few minutes later, a kalabalik in Norrköping's area, the ball goes in and out a couple of times, Pavel gets a shot, it seems to touch a defenser's leg slightly. Nobody really knows where the ball is. Well, it's happily rolling into the cage. 2-1 at half-time with Mjällby being most dangerous, but still wasting too many occasions and too many passes, gives a lot away to Norrköping who, luckily, doesn't manage to make anything out of them.

Apparently the 11 Norrköping supporters
where not too happy about their team's performance: at the half time they turned their banner upside-down:
2nd half starts just where the 1st left off. Most occasions on MAIF's side, but MAIF does not keep the ball and lets Norrköping build their game. And they come back to 2-2 on a head after a corner-kick. Nothing to say, it was a well done goal. Mjällby still pushing. Norrköping wants their 3rd goal bad, so they start to send a lot of players up, too many, making them vulnerable to counter-attacks. And on a counter-attack comes the finest goal. Mostly every body in Mjällby's half, MAIF steals the ball (Eken then Johan), long pass to Olsson in the middle who runs like only he does, he gets and keeps the ball, Pavel has followed, calls for the ball on the right, perfect pass from Olsson, Pavel gets in Norrköping's area, freezes his defender with a little hook, on his left foot, and shoots immediately, not very strong but high and with lots of re-entering effect, straight into the net. Fantastic goal, the keeper couldn't do anything. A goal like we've seen Zizou make, but not so many here in Strandvallen. Now the whole Stadium is on fire, the Strubbarna have finally woken up. Norrköping wants to equalize again, sends in all their forces, but MAIF stays strong and could (should) actually score a couple others. Final score 3-2. Same hero again, but the whole team was strong and managed to create these goals.
Good game of Eken who, from his position as right attacking midfield, got some field, as he needs, and was involved in many dangerous actions.

And of course a to Pavel for his game, especially the 3rd goal which was world-class.

You may wonder why nothing for Simon? Well, he did score a goal, yes, but for the rest he was not outstanding, too slow on many actions, falls easily but does not get back on his feet quick. I tend to prefer the Johan method, where we barely have the time to see him on his knees that he's already back up (ok, Johan has less distance from down to up, but still). So no green card.

And because I have to find something negative, I'd say the same like every game before this season: we are not enough agressive in the middle. Dusan sends the ball away, and most often nobody even tries to receive it. The opponents have the ball, and we just look at them and back as they move forward.
And also, why don't we at the sitting läktare get any cheering/player victory dance when we win, is that an exclusive for the Strubbarna? Who by the way where not very present today again. Borderline they get another yellow, lucky for them we win this one, I might have blamed it on them otherwise.
And the referee was average, let play on many occasions where he should have blown, and blew where he should have let go. He was happily handing out yellows, 7 total, 2 of which to the same Norrköping player who had specialized in nasty tackles from the back. Not quite worth a yellow one, but far from best in class.
And I won't lower myself to commenting Norrköping's trainer's comments from the press-conference, it only shows they don't belong in as high as this league.

The pity is that both Västra Frölunda and Degerfors won today too, i.e. we are still 2nd from the end and didn't close any gap ahead of us in the ranking. If we can take Norrköping who is 6th of the league, then we can win every one of the 5 remaining games. Or shall I say we must?...