MAIF beat swedish champions Elfsborg in the Swedish Cup

The game started quite fast, Elfsborg probably trying to kill the game. MAIF's defense stood well, and instead MAIF had a first occasion at the 8th minute through Kim Thörnberg: in half a second he left his defender standing and kicked a very strong kick, but on the goal keeper. After that, MAIF had many occasions and kicks at the goal, but did not manage to transform them. Erton had a kick on the pole and out again. Marcello chipped the ball above the defense, Thörnberg went around the defender and was in a 1-on-1 with the keeper, but Elfsborg managed to push that one away again. Thörnberg was the best player of the 1st half, followed quite closely by Marcello and Erton. Although the rest of the team was no bad in any respect. But Elfsborg defense was also quite tight, and their offensive midfield knows how to play ball as well. MAIF's defense was holding as we've seen it this far in the championship, quite tight as well, despite a couple of misses here and there. Ivanovski was a little too offensive to my taste, often leaving his position empty, and Elfsborg left aisle was the better one, so we ended up in several challenging situations because of that.

At mid time Johan Persson, who had made a good 1st half was replaced by Phille who played left defender, and Danne went up to the middle. Again Elfsborg tried to raise the rythm and kill the game, again the defense stood well and MAIF had new offensive occasions. Thörnberg was much less active in the 2nd, probably tired. But Marcello, Osiako and Erton were making up for him, by serving assault after assault on Elfsborg's defense, but it didn't go through the keeper.

End of the standard time: 0-0. Elfsborg has had about 3 shots on the goal, MAIF more than the double, but neither teams have been more successful than the other at hitting the net. The inside of it anyway.

During the 1st extra period, nothing notable happened. Same old tight defenses on both sides.

Elfsborg opened the score through ex-GAIS:are Keane at the 113th minute (8 minutes into the 2nd extra period). A missed up-play in the center from MAIF, Keane is borderline off-side (many complained but I personally think it was really close, Cederberg was a little low), evades Cederberg, and pushes the ball between the legs of Fransson. 0-1. Typical end of game goal, lack of concentration in the middle.
Elfsborg probably thought they were home, so they played a little easy now. Then at the 117th minute, free kick for MAIF, the defense focuses on Eken and his dangerous head, in the mean-time Marcello and Erton run freely in front of the keeper, the ball comes down, bounces on the keeper a couple of times, and finally comes to Erton who has an open goal, and pushes it in. 1-1. Another typical end of game goal, 2 MAIF players, and 2 that have been very offensive and dangerous this far, running around freely without a defender on their heels.

End of the standard + extended time: 1-1. Elfsborg can thank their goal-keeper, he was their best player, without him MAIF would have won there.

Then starts the lottery of the penalty kicks. First time I see it in Strandvallen, but it's about as stressing as when watching it on TV.
From Mjällby's side, Eken scored, Marcello's was pushed back, Cederberg scored, Alex's was pushed back, and Lindberg scored.
From Elfsborg, 2 scored, 1 was pushed back, and 1 shot on the pole and 1 outside! Double penalty practice session tomorrow!

Final score: MAIF 4 - 3 Elfsborg. The ruling swedish champions, and at the top of the Allsvenskan this far this year, are taken out of the Swedish Cup by little Mjällby AIF from Superettan. I read this week in the newspaper that Elfsborg's Daniel Mobäck was coming to take a revenge from the only other time he visited Strandvallen, when MAIF was the team in the higher league and beat Elfsborg with 3-0, he must be disappointed.

A score that, although being played in the penalties, mirrors quite well the balance in the game. Technically the both team were pretty much on par, the real level difference was probably in the rythm of the game, Elfsborg remained very constant, while MAIF had more difficulties near the end.
Elfsborg had today a very special tactique, it's the 5-0-5. In our offensive phases we could very often bring up the ball quite unchallenged in the middle. Luckily their defenders are quite skilled, because that's a dangerous tactique.

Tha pajas was a bit un-even today, especially between the 70 and the 100th minutes, where he let go quite nasty actions, but whistled of gave yellows for nothing.

Finally, ze Strubbarna were definitely the 12th player today, pushing the team all the way to the end, singing and cheering.
On their corner, the disappointingly few (all 12 of them) Elfsborg supporters could not really compete. Today, they were not in the same league.

Next Cup game, the 8th final, is at a yet undefined date away against Örgryte, which we dominated last time at home, so I do hope we will go forth into 1/4 final. But if we've learned anything today, and Elfsborg surely did, it's that you shall never be too confident.
Next championship game is this sunday at home against Bunkeflo, and a very important one since Bunkeflo are just 1 point behind us on the table. Let's hope today's victory will help the players recover from today's very long and tiring game.