Sweden: Mjällby have the edge

Mjällby AIF beat IFK Norrköping 2-1 in the first leg of their Allsvenskan relegation play-off on Wednesday afternoon. With a place in the Swedish elite at stake, more than 5,000 spectators packed into the Strandvallen to see the crucial encounter.

Goalkeeping heroics
Mjällby, who finished third in the Swedish second division, went for the throat early on and were rewarded after just five minutes when Jens Hermansson crashed home the opening goal.

2-0 lead
And it got worse for Norrköping when Marcus Ekenberg made it 2-0 after 18 minutes. Only heroics from visiting goalkeeper Eddie Gustafsson prevented the score from increasing and kept his side's hopes of survival alive.

Lifeline for visitors
However, Norrköping gained a lifeline 17 minutes from time when Jonas Wallerstedt silenced the home supporters with what could turn out to be his side's most important goal of the season. The pair meet again on Saturday at the Norrköpings Idrottsparken.