Everything coming up roses for Kalmar

Kalmar FF will head into their UEFA Cup decider against Feyenoord with their spirits soaring, after a 2-1 win against second-placed IF Elfsborg on Sunday saw them take a giant leap towards winning a maiden title in Sweden.

Elm keyed up
The biggest achievements of Kalmar's 98-year history to date have come with claiming three Swedish Cups, while they were league runners-up in 1985 and 2007. However, they could write a new chapter in the coming weeks by taking the title and reaching the UEFA Cup group stage, provided they can preserve their 1-0 lead at home against Feyenoord on Thursday.
"I'm at least as excited about that match as I am for an Allsvenskan match," said midfielder Viktor Elm, who has two brothers in the Kalmar squad . "Advancing to the group stage would be a great achievement."

On target
Before kick-off at the Fredriksskans Stadium on Sunday, Elfsborg were just a point behind Kalmar, but two goals from Elm – who also scored the club's shock winner in Rotterdam in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first round fixture – made sure the home side hung on to top spot in the league, and built up a four-point lead with only six Allsvanskan fixtures remaining. Elfsborg created most of the chances in the first half, with Daniel Mobäck hitting the crossbar and a Denni Avdic header drawing an impressive save from Petter Wastå in the Kalmar goal. However, it was the league leaders who made the breakthrough, Elm hitting home from just outside the penalty area just before the half-time whistle.

'Old cliché'
The same player struck again in the 82nd minute, this time with an exquisite free-kick, and Joakim Sjöhage's last-gaso goal for Elfsborg was merely a consolation. However, despite the significance of their victory, Elm remained cautious. "Nothing is sure as yet," he explained. "We're sticking to that old cliché, taking one match at a time."