IFK deny Kalmar double downpayment
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Article summary
IFK Göteborg avenged their defeat in last season's Swedish Cup final as league leaders Kalmar FF were denied a second successive victory, with the game being settled on penalties after 120 goalless minutes.
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Opening exchanges
Kalmar were responsible for one of the shock results of the week as they won 1-0 at Feyenoord in the UEFA Cup first round on Thursday, but they were unable to find a way past reigning Swedish champions IFK, who they beat 3-0 in last season's final. After an inconclusive start to the game, Tobias Hysén set up Robin Söder but the 17-year-old's goal-bound shot was blocked by Kalmar defender Joachim Lantz. Göteborg contined to dictate the pace of the game without really threatening Petter Wastå in the Kalmar goal and at the other end, Rasmus Elm forced Kim Christensen to make a save with a powerful shot five minutes before the break.
Goalkeeping heroics
Kalmar picked up the pace after the interval with Lantz striking two efforts just wide, but the game went into extra time. Six minutes in, Gustav Svensson drew a fabulous save from Wastå, and Elm hit the post for Kalmar two minutes later. With the clock ticking down, Stefan Johansson had another chance to win it, but Christensen proved equal to his effort. Christensen then converted a penalty for Göteborg in the shoot-out, and with both sides successful with their first four efforts, the goalkeeper denied Marcus Lindgren, to set up Pontus Wernbloom to score and hand Göteborg their first cup success since 1991.