Helsingborg profit as favourites falter

By Jan Juhlin

IFK Göteborg's hopes of lifting their first Allsvenskan title since 1996 received an early knock with a shock 3-0 defeat by league newcomers Assyriska Föreningen, leaving Helsingborgs IF to surprisingly top the embryonic league table in Sweden.

IFK inconsistency
Many expected IFK and Malmö FF to contest the title, and the Gothenburg outfit drew first blood with a 2-1 win against their traditional rivals on the season's opening day. But they were soon brought back down to earth by Assyriska as Andreas Haddad scored twice in a stunning win that could throw the league wide open.

Royal League preoccupation
IFK could well have had their minds elsewhere as three days earlier they moved to within a point of reaching the first Royal League final after defeating Vålerenga IF 2-1. Malmö could yet meet them there after victory against FC København, and they built on that win to record three points on their return to domestic action with a 1-0 success at Landskrona BoIS, who have since lost Nigerian striker Kevin Amuneke for six weeks to a knee injury.

Graulund goals
With the favourites struggling to find early-season form, it has been six-time league winners Helsingborg that have capitalised with two successive victories. The side finished tenth last term and with the winter departure of Ulrik Jansson, were expected to struggle again. But Danish striker Peter Graulund scored twice in a 2-0 opening-day win against 2004 runners-up Halmstads BK, and added another in 2-1 victory at Gefle IF.

Three's company
The defeat left promoted Gefle rooted to the foot of the table alongside Landskrona, while Helsingborg are two points clear at the summit as they are the only side with maximum points. Indeed, after a remarkable opening two rounds, they are one of only three sides who remain unbeaten as no less than nine of the 14 sides have recorded a win and a loss.

Solitary draw
After picking up three points in the opening round of matches, Hammarby and Kalmar FF shared the spoils at the Söderstadion on Monday - the only draw in the league this season - to climb to second. There was bad news at GIF Sundsvall, however, after striker Jonas Wallerstedt was ruled out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury. Sundsvall began with a 3-1 win against IF Elfsborg but a Teddy Lucic goal earned BK Häcken victory a week later.