Djurgården hooks BK Häcken in the Battle of Gold.
But it was tough at home against struggling Elfsburg.
After a great drama, the Blue Stripes finally managed to win 2-1.
In the first match since promotion to the Conference League, Djurgården showed that the level is still good.
At home against Elfsburg, Hjalmar Ekdal needed just ten minutes to head a Magnus Ericsson free kick to make it 1-0, the center back’s third goal.
– It’s a great free kick from Mange, the scorer tells Discovery Plus.
One minute later, Ikdal was involved in a situation with Bear Frick where the central defender fell after hitting an elbow and Djurgaard’s players, captains and fans shouted for a red card but the referee settled on a yellow.
‘obvious warning’
“He’s a strong player, he goes hard, he raises his arm to my face and that’s an obvious warning anyway,” says Ekdal.
– I see it’s a long ball and I try to catch it, then I don’t know how ugly it is, that wasn’t the point anyway, says Frick.
A quarter of an hour later, the next goal came when Hampus Finndell didn’t want it to be worse when he headed in the second as the ball settled perfectly over the bar behind the Elfsborg goalkeeper.
In the second half, Elfsborg tried to get into the match and with ten minutes left, they were on the hook when Jacob Ondrejka pared a brilliant free kick.
Despite several good equalizing chances, Djurgarden managed to delay the win and the win means he is a fresh second, three points behind PK Haken. For Elfsborg, this was their ninth straight game without a win.
It wasn’t a nice victory, but three points were important today and it was very good to get it, says Ekdal.
– It will be exciting this fall, it is important that we improve it in the best way and we can keep the shape for as long as possible, he continues.
