The Stockholm derby was a gloomy chapter for Djurgården for a long time. Haunted by the so-called derby ghost, the 08 meetings usually ended with a loss, or at best a draw. But this season there have been at least two victories against the big local competitors.
- Of course it is important. It's not just the derby matches that matter to us. But for the fans and for the group it is extremely important, says Jani Honkavaara.
After the final whistle, the joy among the blue-striped was total. The players rushed into the stands to celebrate with the supporters, and team captain Adam Stål promised that the party would continue.
- Historically speaking, perhaps we don't play a good football match. But we are here and we have the derby heart today. I'm so fucking proud of the boys, said Djurgården's team captain Adam Stål to TV4 through the net that separates the stands from the pitch.
Stål then headed for Sturehof, where the team celebrated the spring derby victory over AIK. Coach Jani Honkavaara was given the thankless task of stepping in as a party wrecker.
- No, they are forbidden from going out, says the coach, who points out that Friday is the time again.
The Football Allsvenskan is in the final stages and the Stockholm derby - the last of the season - was most likely the last chance to hang on in the fight for the gold.
Hammarby was best in the hunt for the table ahead of Sirius, but now Djurgården has taken the lead in the chasing group. The distance is still great, but mathematically there is still a chance.
As usual, it was a Norwegian who became the hero of the match for the animal farms. This time the opposite of how it usually goes: Bo Hegland goalscorer, assisted by the shooting league leader and compatriot Kristian Lien.
- I have said a thousand times that he (Hegland) is clearly the best footballer in Allsvenskan. There is no doubt about it, Lien says of his teammate.
Initially, many spoke for it to be another defeat for Djurgården. It was the home team Hammarby who had the game and the (few) scoring chances. Team captain Nahir Besara was back in the starting eleven for the first time in the Allsvenskan since "Bajen's" match against Degerfors on July 19.
Besara also had a great opportunity when, after half an hour, he was given the ball in the penalty area by Djurgården's Patric Åslund, who hit an incredibly unsuccessful pass home. But the visitors' goalkeeper Jacob Rinne managed to stand in the way.
Djurgården had a hard time establishing a game, often losing the ball soon after they got hold of it. But statistics and ball possession don't always matter in the end.
Although the first half was by all accounts Hammarby's game-wise, it was still Djurgården who scored the goal.
In the 45th minute. Jeppe Okkels accelerated after Djurgården won the ball in the middle of the field. He passed the ball to Kristian Lien, who immediately pushed it on to Bo Hegland. The Norwegian put the wide side there and suddenly it was 1-0 to the guests.
- We are incredibly good at counterattacks. And then a fantastic finish and then, boom, 1–0, sums up Kristian Lien.
The second half was tighter, but scoreless.
An important prestigious victory for Djurgården, which also takes over second place in the Allsvenskan table. Djurgården is still 10 points behind leader Sirius. Hammarby, now third in the table, is eleven points behind.
Seven rounds remain before the Allsvenskan is finished.
- It is far too great a distance, so Sirius is alone until they possibly go on a strike. But we have to do our job. If we're lucky and Christmas comes a little early, maybe we'll get a present, says Kristian Lien about the continued battle for gold.
