Gamla Ullevi, Allsvenskan, 21/10/24
Me still 325, Wee Man still 191
Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Göteborg
Founded – 1904
Nickname – Blåvitt (Blue and white)
Honours – UEFA Cup – 1981/82 and 1986/87. Svenska mästare – 1908, 1910, 1918, 1934/35, 1941/42, 1957/58, 1969, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2007. Allsvenskan – 1934/35, 1941/42, 1957/58, 1969, 1982, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2007. Svenska Serien – 1912/13, 1913/14, 1914/15, 1915/16 and 1916/17. Frykantserien – 1918 and 1919. Division 2 – 1938/39, 1950/51 and 1976. Svenska Cupen – 1978/79, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1991, 2008, 2012/13, 2014/15 and 2019/20. Svenska Supercupen – 2008. Kamratmästerskapen – 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924 and 1940
Random Fact – The clubs badge may look like the coat of arms of Gothenburg but there is one big difference. The coat of arms sees the lion facing his left. This can seen as a retreating or fleeing direction. The club flipped the lion to face the right or facing the action as it were. Who would want a wimpy lion on their shirt anyway, a poor message to send to opponents.
The final piece of this brilliant Swedish jigsaw before travelling home early in the morning. A second game in the Gamla Ullevi but this time a tier higher, sold out unlike OIS, and it almost did not happen for us. This because our tickets did not work at the gate. After panic had well and truly set in we had to leg it round to the ticket office at the other side of the ground to try and fix it. It turned out the code on the tickets were registered for the next home game v Kalmar despite the tickets saying IFK v AIK. Due to this we lost our seats and had to switch to the standing area behind the goal and to be honest this made our night so much better. As we walked in the pyro party was well underway and hardly stopped as the night went on. This at both ends as the Stockholmers were at it just as much. On the away support, I couldn’t help but notice the police presence increased significantly in the city as the day went on. A few folk we had spoke to had said that there was no love lost between the two sides and that was definitely clear in the amount of police on the go, inclusive of the train station being circled by Swedish equivalents to black marias. It is the biggest rivalry in the county and I could wait for it.
With both teams struggling somewhat I wasn’t too sure what to expect from the game. I was just hoping for goals and drama and that is exactly what we got. The atmosphere was very good for starters and with constant pyro and non stop noise emanating from both ends. On the pitch the game was a good watch too. A very even one at that with the possession well spread and the chances created being level too. IFK almost scored as we walked in a couple of minutes late after the ticket fiasco. This when Laurs Skjellerup was through but he shot early and right at Nordfeldt but it was AIK took the league silencing a large chunk of the sell out crowd in doing so. Dino Besirovic was the man but a fortunate one at that when his first effort ricocheted back to him and the follow up took a minging deflection wrong footing the keeper. The silence did not las long and the atmosphere hotted up and it was clear Wee Man was loving it. Banging the fence in time with the drum, becoming transfixed on the multiple flares being set off. He was enjoying what was around him more than the match I reckon.
HT 0 v 1
The second half was very similar to the first with the end to end and even nature of the play. The best chance fell to IFK’s Ohlsson who who pinged an effort at goal but Nordfeldt got down smart to tip around the post. It could be argued that the home side were the better team in the half and they deservedly grabbed a late equaliser (88mins) when Ohlsson was found on the penalty spot with a free kick, a brilliant turn toward goal saw him poke the ball into the net with three minutes to go sending our end wild. Surely the points were to be shared. Or were they to be? With our trip to Sweden in it’s dying embers were were treated to a some late late drama when AIK scored a winner in the 97th minute and a shite goal to give away from a IFK perspective it was. A cross from the running Bersant Celina found the head of Benjamin Hansen (who looked in too much space). The defenders header seemed to go over Karlstrom in the IFK goal which suggests he was too far off his line, I would have to see it back but gis positioning didnt look too clever. But the visitors from the east were not caring as the sea of flares cracked turning the away end into a mini looking hell and the AIK players embraced in front of their fans after scoring with the last touch of the ball. This while the blue and white clad IFK men were shell shocked looking to the skies in disbelief. What a way to end our tour of Gothenburg fitba and not just because of the last gasp win. Just the whole IFK experience in general. Top fans, top ticket office girl* and a top atmosphere. One of the best I have been a in. Plus the young one absolutely loved it too, even if he did want a home win. If he is happy, I am.
*Not all heroes wear capes
Entrance – Me, 250SEK (£18.28), Wee Man 150SEK (£10.90)
Attendance -17155 (Official)
Pie – 30SEK (£2.20) Marabou
Pint – 70SEK (£5.10)
Score Prediction – Me 1 v 1, Wee Man 1 v 2
Score Prediction Season Total – Me 0 v 1 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 