BK Häcken secured an important home victory in the Allsvenskan by defeating Halmstad BK 1-0 at the Nordic Wellness Arena. Julius Lindberg decided the match in the 36th minute with a precise shot into the far corner, according to the match report from Expressen.
Who scored the winner for Häcken?
Julius Lindberg was the match-winner with his opening goal. After a weak clearance from Halmstad and a couple of quick passes, he received the ball on the edge of the box and placed it neatly. "It was just a case of shooting. We've practiced setting up for shots so I knew he would lay it off for me," Lindberg told TV4 afterwards. Häcken dominated large parts of the second half but missed several clear chances to extend their lead. The team's offensive play can be followed in more detail on our stats page.
Why was Halmstad angry?
Halmstad's players and coach were upset about a first-half incident where Häcken's Harun Ibrahim, already on a yellow card, tackled Rami Kaib. The referee only awarded a free-kick. "There should be a red card here, I think. It's clear," Kaib said on TV4. Manager Stuart Baxter agreed. "I think it was clear. But the referee makes his decision and we have to play under those conditions," he said. Harun Ibrahim himself argued the incident shouldn't even have been a free-kick.
How did the win affect the standings?
The three points meant a climb up the table for BK Häcken. The team is now third in the Allsvenskan with a better goal difference than AIK in fourth place. For Halmstad, who are bottom, it was another tough defeat. They have just seven points after 17 rounds and are nine points from the relegation playoff spot. The current league table is always available on our standings page.
Who started the match?
BK Häcken lined up with Etrit Berisha in goal. The defensive line consisted of Harun Ibrahim, Leo Väisänen, Filip Helander and Adam Lundkvist. The midfield featured David Seger and Abdoulaye Doumbia, while the attack was Mikkel Rygaard, Adrian Svanbäck, Julius Lindberg and Gustav Lindgren. Halmstad started with Tim Rönning in goal and a defensive line of Gabriel Wallentin, Pascal Gregor and Erko Tougjas. Niilo Mäenpää and Joel Allansson led the midfield. The full squad list is on our squad page.
What's next for Häcken?
With this win, Häcken has strengthened its position near the top of the league. The team has now taken points in four of its last five matches. The next challenge in the Allsvenskan is an away fixture against IFK Norrköping, to be played on Saturday, September 12th.
