Gero the Hero as Öster are a Match for Jönköpings

This week's Yappmobile is brought to you by the letter V and the number 40

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Monday 27 October 2014 at Stadsparksvallen
Result	Jönköpings Södra 3 Oster 3
Competition	Superettan (Swedish 2nd tier)
Hopping	554 on the lifetime list, chosen for logistic reasons and the last game of this trip.  You have to know a little of the town's history to locate the hidden wordplay somewhere in this post.
Pre-match preparation
The significance of this game might depend on results earlier in the weekend.  The home side (at the time of writing, before I left the UK) have a mathematical chance of a promotion playoff place but this will only be alive if Ljungskile lost on Friday evening. It looks like they will finish a noble but frustrated fourth in the table.  Oster, however, really do need the points.  They slipped into a relegation play-off place last week.  Their fans will be looking out for the result from Angelholm.  Two points separate them with one more game after today, so if Angelholm win and Oster lose, then the relegation playoff for the latter is confirmed.  It’s quite likely that nothing will be settled tonight – but a draw will probably not be enough for the visitors. Update: Ljungskile drew last Friday so Jönköpings knew that promotion was out of the question now.   Öster start the evening two points behind  Ängelholm - one of these two will take the final relegation playoff place, and the latter are also playing simultaneously. The rest of my pre-match prep was a leisurely drive through quiet towns and villages en route from Borås. No, I did NOT eat the flowers ... Ladies and gentlemen, a BLACK squirrel. Honest.
This match in one sentence
The home side dominated the first half of this wind-affected game, but a glut of late goals left the match all square and no good for anyone except the passing neutrals.
So what?
Jönköpings will finish 4th whatever happens next week.  GIF Sundsvall won this evening and take control of the title into their own hands (see my post from GAIS).  Öster need to win and hope that one from GAIS, Syrianska or Ängelholm lose.  Plenty of interest in the Superettan yet!
The drama unfolds
The drama started when Doris the Satnav took me in the opposite direction to the floodlights on the hill, but eventually I found a parking spot more by luck than anything, and even had time for a pre-match sausage with the temperature of a medium-sized star.  Öster's faithful had brought a few pyrotechnics, but must be on a low budget and we started on time. On the pitch, Jönköpings took control from the start.  They are in green in the scene-setter clip They had to wait until almost midway through the half to take the lead.  The goal has been credited to Fredrik Olsson.  It was a curling low cross-shot hit right-footed from the left wing and he must have got the faintest of touches.  Öster had lost the ball in a dangerous area allowing it to be played wide.  1-0 after 20 mins Olsson hit the bar on the half hour, unluckily.   The home side were well on top and enjoying playing with the wind behind them.  Tommy Thelin was very influential either in "the hole" or out wide on the left.  Here's another clip of a set piece. Thelin and Jesper Svensson were picked out making intelligent runs on to good passes but Öster got to the break with no further damage, and I moved over to the other side of the ground.  1-0 at half time Öster came out fighting after the break and took a few minutes to adjust to the worsening conditions.  I took a couple of early clips. They came close just after the hour, but then Thelin opened up a two-goal lead from the penalty spot after someone was scythed down.  2-0 after 65 mins Mario Vasilj has been credited with the opening Öster goal, which followed almost immediately and was an untidy bundling in at the far post.  2-1 after 67 mins Jönköpings then hit the woodwork again before Öster were level.  A through ball found Alhadji Gero who kept his composure and gave the keeper no chance.  2-2 after 70 mins Jönköpings came close again before Öster sub Freddy Söderberg had an excellent chance on the break to complete the turnround with only 12 minutes left.  He rolled the ball past the keeper but clipped the post.  So it must have hurt when Daryl Smilieand Thelin combined to set up sub Ronny Sabo for the best goal of the evening.  3-2 after 80 mins My final clip captures the sixth goal of the night to make things all square.  It's Gero's second, from Öster's third corner in quick succession.  I wonder if it will be enough to keep them in the second tier - all will be decided next weekend.  3-3 after 88 mins and at full-time ... and that is that for  the footballing side of this trip, with just a day of touring tomorrow before the plane home.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this trip to a very friendly and hospitable nation and I would recommend it to anyone.
Ground Pix
Match Pix
Something You Don’t Get in the Premier League
Four games in one weekend for a combined entrance fee of £60.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Grey draws with Black - I think that is the first black top of the season, which will mess up my spreadsheet.  Oh well, insert row etc etc.
Learn Swedish Through Football
ståplats - standing (places) sittplats - seating (places) kortsida - short side (i.e. behind the goal) långsida - long side Måndag - Monday tre - tre - 3-3
What Next?
Back to the UK tomorrow after a day of tourism, and then who knows.  A mountain of school work beckons, but watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details – maybe time on Saturday for number 555.

Elfsborg, How Did Djurgården Go?

Elfsborg manager Klas Ingesson will be known to Sheffield Wednesday fans.  He has been fighting myeloma, a form of blood cancer, for several years.

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Sunday 26 October 2014 at Borås Arena
Result	Elfsborg 0 Djurgården 1
Competition	Allsvenskan (Sweden’s Top Tier)
Hopping	Game 3 of this short trip.  553 on the lifetime list.  Chosen for logistical reasons.
Pre-match preparation
Malmö have an unassailable lead at the top but Elfsborg sit 3rd in a Europa League spot.  4th place AIK will just have finished their game just before kickoff here, and 2nd place IFK play on Monday evening.  Only two points separate the three teams.  Elfsborg will be playing to win, for sure, and it may all go down to next week’s final round of games.  Opponents Djurgården are in mid-table. Update: AIK pushed Elfsborg to 4th by kickoff time but their task was essentially unchanged.  Win.
This match in one sentence A disaster for Elfsborg as they missed a string of chances and came up against a keeper in inspired form.
So what?
Elfsborg now need favours from other sides if they are to get a Europa League place next year. Three teams are fighting over two places and IFK will take pole position if they win at Helsingborgs tonight.  AIK are the other team in the mix, and all three have "winnable" fixtures (on paper) in next week's final round.  *Insert the artificial surface version of the old but-they-play-on-grass joke here*
The drama unfolds
I watched the game in the excellent and genial company of Kurt, whose English is excellent and put my few words of Swedish to shame.  We both have mathematical and scientific backgrounds.  If you are reading this, thanks again for your company and insights. We had the second delayed KO of the day - see Clip 1. Kenneth Høie made his first good save after only 12 minutes, although Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard also pushed a shot spectacularly onto the bar at the other end soon after.  Man City and Blackpool fans will remember him (just).  Elfsborg were well on top and Høie soon had to make two more saves, though Martin Broberg could and should have put the visitors ahead with a glancing header.  After half an hour I wrote "E should be ahead by now!" on my pad.  The first match clip (Clip 2) is from a quieter moment towards the end of the first half.  Elfsborg are in yellow and black. It finished goalless at the interval but only because Høie saved once again from Lasse Neilsen, who will still be wondering what he has to do to score.  0-0 at halftime Clip 3 shows why we had another delay before the second half started. Elfsborg opened up the visitors defence within seconds but this time it was a brilliant saving tackle by Fredrik Stenman that saved Djurgården.  There were great saves yet again at each end as the second half started at a cracking pace. The only goal of the game came from Haris Radetinac.  He shaped to volley as the ball came out to him, but seemed to change his mind and it looked as if the chance had gone.  Instead, his low shot found the left-hand corner.  0-1 after 52 mins A draw would be no good to Elfsborg and they pressed immediately.  A missed header was followed by yet another flying save from that man Høie, and again from Neilsen.  I took another clip (Clip 4) but Elfsborg were tiring and running out of ideas.  The most common image was Elfsborg heads being held in hands as a series of half-chances came to nothing.  Final score 0-1
Ground Pix
Match Pix
Something You Don’t Get in the Premier League Yet (Part 2)
As a chemistry graduate, I am very fond of explosions and pyrotechnics, but I am uneasy about this.  Posting because of the novelty value, for me, but not really wanting to encourage them.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Orange loses to grey.  Full table to follow when I am back in the UK.
Learn Swedish Through Football
Mitfälltare - midfielders Vi spelar för Klas - we are playing for Klas Vi är inte nöjda - we are not satisfied (attributed to Jose Mouriho in today's papers) Kom helt rätt hela tiden - literally, "came completely right all the time" - Høie's man of the match rating in the same paper
What Next?
One game left on this trip – Jönköpings Södra v Oster on Monday evening.

The Draw of Smoked Mackerels may be a Hammarby Blow

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Sunday 26 October 2014 at (Nya) Gamla Ullevi
Result	GAIS 0 Hammarby 0
Competition	Superettan (Sweden’s 2nd tier)
Hopping	552 on the lifetime list, chosen for logistic reasons and the first of a double hop today.
Pre-match preparation
This division is tight!  Hammarby went top on goal difference in the last round and only one point separates the top three.  Nothing can be decided today but Hammarby will be looking for a win here at mid-table GAIS. Update: Ljungskile missed the chance to take top spot on Friday and GIF Sunsvall don’t play till tomorrow.  I had time in the morning to visit the tropical house at Boräs.  I'd pre-booked my hotel there last night before I realised there would be the chance of a double hop.  No matter, it was a shortish easy drive back towards Gothenburg.

Then I discovered that the stadium I photographed on emerging from the car park was NOT the right one ... *red face* ... the clue was in all the people streaming down the road to another stadium tucked just around the corner.  Ullevi is a larger multi-purpose stadium - think rock concerts and speedway as well as occasional football.  Gamla Ullevi is home to four Swedish football teams.  I saw tonight that the wikipedia entry for the former says "not to be confused with Gamla Ullevi".  Here's two pix of Ullevi looking empty.  I got into the correct one with minutes to spare.  (Hoppers should also note that SatNavs will take you to the GAIS training base if you feed in the club address from soccerway!)

This match in one sentence

An entertaining goalless draw with plenty of chances and half-chances, and both sides would claim they could have won it.

So what?

GIF Sundsvall will now win the division if they win their final two games, starting on Monday night.  It is so close - a draw would hand the advantage back to Hammarbv going into next week's final round as all three contenders would have equal points but Hammarby have a much superior GD.  All three have home games.  Ljungskile, whatever happens, would be dependent on at least one of the other results to go their way.  One of the three will have the consolation of promotion instead of the title, and one will face a playoff.

The drama unfolds

The players were taken off the pitch as the ground became engulfed in smoke.  To be honest, I wouldn't have known that from where I was sitting.


We kicked off ten minutes late.  Hammarby started like champions-in-waiting and forced a series of corners.  Kennedy Bakircioglu was prominent around the edge of the box and I warmed to him as a fellow man going thin on top.  There was a good atmosphere in the ground with the visiting fans in good orchestrated voice, as is the way on the continent.  Nahir Besara sliced a shot wide for Hammarby and then that man Bakircioglu forced Tommy Vaiho to save at the near post.  Here is my first-half scene setter.  GAIS (the Mackerels, apparently) are in the green and black, and Hammarby are in white and green.


0-0 at half time

Besara and Bakircioglu were in action again within moments of the restart, but GAIS were not out of this and arguably missed a much easier chance when a low driven cross from the right just eluded everyone.  They really should have scored again after 70 minutes.  It was end-to-end stuff - we knew that a draw was not enough for Hammarby and GAIS were playing for pride. Here's a second half clip.


This was a thoroughly enjoyable fixture.  It ended goalless but there was plenty of entertainment value.  Final score 0-0

Ground Pix

Match Pix

Something You Don’t Get in the Premier League (Yet)

Smoke - match delayer and a token gesture during the second half ...

Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats

Orange and blue share the spoils and take a clean sheet each.  Full table later this month when I am back in the UK!

Learn Swedish Through Football

Norra - north
Södra - south
Söndag - Sunday
Tio över ett - ten past one
Försvarare - defenders

What Next?

Elfsborg (who are from Borås, that I do know) is just under an hour’s drive from here – they are at home in the Allsvenskan later this afternoon.  Update: I made it!  Blogpost to follow.

Ett - Noll and the Toppers can wear Toppers

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 25 October at Ruddalens IP.
Result	Utsikten 1 Kristianstad 0
Competition	Sweden, D1 South (Third Tier)
Hopping	My first game of a short trip to Sweden.  551 on the lifetime list.  Chosen for the chance of a promotion party!
Pre-match preparation
With two games to go, Utsikten sit five points ahead of Örgryte and with a GD nine better.  Therefore, a win at home today will make them mathematically certain of the title, and even a point should be enough in the end.  Örgryte play against Oddevold on Monday evening and will be hoping for an away win for Kristianstad today.  They are already guaranteed a promotion playoff but can only win the title if Utsikten lose both today and next week while they themselves win both remaining games.  Odds are stacked in favour of some title celebrations today before I head to the hotel. After my arrival, the other pre-match activity was a quick visit to the Volvo museum.  I've had two of them in my lifetime, so I really enjoyed this.  Here's a taste.  Some of them look really angular now, but they are certainly iconic.  The temporary Yappmobile for this trip is a Volvo C40, and I have to say I am impressed.
This match in one sentence
Utsikten just about did enough to get over the line with only minimal drama.
So what?
They head to the second tier - the Superettan - next season.
The drama unfolds
The first continental-type sausage of the tour was consumed, as was some very decent black coffee with pre-2000 rock music over the speakers and a fine display of autumnal trees in the background.  Now bring on the match. Utsikten got hold of the game from the start and created several openings in the early minutes.  Here's the scene-setter clip - the hosts are in blue. Niklas Tidstrand, wearing 10, was involved in all these early skirmishes.  André Möllestam, wearing 33 in the visiting defence, was kept very busy but stood out too,  Neither of them have been to a traditional English barber's shop anytime lately, I am guessing.  The first real sniff of goal for Kristianstad came after 14 minutes, but they didn't get too many. On 20 minutes, Tidstrand led a 4-on-3 break but shot over, but he made amends by taking the set piece from the right-wing that led to the headed winning goal from Robin Jonsson.  The teams had one more clear chance each before the interval.  1-0 at half-time That's going in for the winning goal The second half was not the greatest spectacle.  Utsikten got closest to scoring a second, but there were occasional glimpses of the goal for Kristianstad.  I went for a walk around the perimeter to admire all the wooden stands and seating (It's a Hitchin thing).  Here's a clip from the closing stages. Final score 1-0 There were plenty of celebrations after the final whistle so I think my unofficial calculations are right - Utsikten take the title.  Just look at those golden top hats.
Ground Pix
Match Pix
Something You Don’t Get in the Premier League
Handwritten match announcements on whiteboards
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
A ett-noll win for maroon over green.  Updated stats will follow when I am back in the UK!
Learn Swedish Through Football
ett - noll     1-0 lördag     Saturday dagens match     today's match målvakter     goalkeepers tabellen     the table min svävare är full med ål This is a running gag, refer to previous overseas hops or Monty Python
What Next?
The provisional plan is for two games tomorrow – GAIS v Hammarby followed by Elfsborg v Djurgården.