Djurgarden beat AIK in Stockholm derby thriller as Hacken hold on to beat Malmo

AIK 2-4 Djurgarden

A crowd of almost 50,000 filled Strawberry Arena for one of northern Europes fiercest rivalries, yet most supporters left unhappy as Djurgarden secured the victory.

The away team took the lead after only 10 minutes, with a precise pass reaching Patric Aslund near the goal line, and his return pass was redirected straight to Hampus Findell, who slotted it neatly into the bottom corner.

Six minutes later, Djurgarden doubled their advantage when a deep corner from Bo Hegland was connected with a powerful header from Miro Tenho at the far post, which squeezed past the keeper and defenders on the line despite the narrow angle.

Halfway through the opening period, AIK fought back, as Zadok Yohanna evaded his defender and passed the ball back for Kevin Filling to score with ease. Moments later, in the 37th minute, they believed they had equalised when Axel Kouames effort struck the post and Filling converted the rebound, but an offside decision disallowed it, even though video evidence indicated Filling was onside.

Following that harsh setback, Djurgarden struck again during stoppage time of the first half, as Hegland provided another excellent delivery, and his curving free-kick was nodded in by Mikael Marques.

AIK refused to give up and reduced the deficit to one goal near the halfway mark of the second half, with Aron Csongvais corner kick being volleyed home forcefully by Dino Besirovic.

Yet it seemed appropriate that Hegland delivered the decisive moment four minutes before the end, latching onto a pass from Kristian Lien and shooting low beyond Kristoffer Nordfeldt to confirm Djurgardens second consecutive triumph, maintaining their fourth position. AIK sit in ninth after earning just one point from their previous four fixtures.

Hacken 3-2 Malmo

Five goals lit up a chaotic first half in Gothenburg, with Hacken claiming three to edge out Malmo, marking their first victory in four matches while staying unbeaten, as MFF have now dropped points in three of their last four.

Hacken breached the visitors defence within four minutes, as Adrian Svanback threaded a pass to Gustav Lindgren, who completed it with flair. Sixteen minutes on, the score reached 2-0 when Lindgren received a cross from Amor Layouni, though the decisive touch belonged to Malmos Jens Stryger Larsen.

Malmo hit back swiftly, pulling one back four minutes afterwards, with Otto Rosengren sending a corner short to the areas edge for Busanello to strike first time, his shot deflecting heavily into the goal.

With eight minutes left in the half, Adam Lundqvist whipped in a low ball that Lindgren failed to strike cleanly, but he nudged it over the line for his fifth goal this campaign. Malmo responded in two minutes, as Sead Haksabanovics free-kick was glanced in at the near post by Erik Botheim, directing it into the far corner.

The second half saw Lindgren miss a clear hat-trick opportunity, while Filip Helander and Silas Andersen nearly ensured the win. In stoppage time, Stefano Vecchia appeared set to level, but he fired directly at Andreas Linde.

Hacken hold fifth spot, trailing Djurgarden solely on goal difference, whereas Malmo lag three points behind in seventh.

Kalmar 2-0 Halmstad

Halmstad dismissed Johan Lindholm following a mere two points from their first six games, and the transition to new manager Stuart Baxter, who previously led the club from 1988-91, began poorly with a defeat to Kalmar, who escape the relegation zone.

Kalmar opened the scoring early in the second half via a Charles Sagoe Jr volley that cushioned a cross from Charlie Rosenqvist at the back post, and they extended the lead eight minutes later as Rony Janssons forward pass reached Marius Soderback, who laid it off for Anthony Olusanya to steer into the bottom corner.

After a sluggish beginning, Kalmar have now won two of their last three, while HBK endure a third straight loss and stay rooted to the bottom.