Tuesday 11 August 2009

Hammarby IF 1 v 2 Helsingborgs IF

Monday 3rd August 2009
Allsvenskan (Swedish Premier League)
Soderstadion, Stockholm
Attendance: 9949
Admission: 125 SEK
Programme: 20 SEK


The second game of my Swedish tour took me to southern Stockholm to the Soderstadion, with apparently the largest globe in Europe adjacent. This was the game I was looking forward to most of all, at a stadium with a capacity of 15,000, the Hammarby fans famous for being the most passionate and noisy support in Sweden, and Henrik Larsson lining up for the visitors.

Unfortunately, Larsson had damaged his leg the previous week ruling him out, but the support indeed was impressive. I took my place at the top of a huge bank of terracing behind the goal (I always prefer terracing) with a great if distant view of the pitch and stadium. Helsingborgs certainly would have been favourites for this match, lying in 4th place in the league with Hammarby hovering just above the relegation zone, and failing to score in their previous 3 games.

This game did indeed go according to predictions. Hammarby had most of the possession and chances, but Helsingborgs played on the counter, always looking dangerous and took the lead just before half time. They extended this on 60 minutes, and although Hammarby almost immediately pulled a goal back with a wonderful free kick and fair chances to equalise, Helsingborgs looked pretty comfortable to take the win which sent them to the top of the table and Hammarby still struggling above the relegation zone.

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