A first major trophy for Mjallby AIF could be confirmed in less than 24 hours, after their 2-0 home win over Elfsborg this afternoon, which means Hammarby must win away at Goteborg tomorrow to force MAIF to wait another week before clinching the Allsvenskan title.
The team from the tiny village of Hallevik on the south coast have been doing just enough in recent weeks as the finish line has honed into view, earning a series of one-goal wins, while a draw with strugglers Oster in their previous home match suggested nerves were beginning to take hold.
Another win today would see MAIF go 14 points clear of Hammarby, but the Stockholm side not playing until tomorrow means they can still take 15 points, and therefore the home side could not secure the title on the pitch.
Elfsborg, at one time in the mix for the title, or at least a European place, have been in free-fall of late, taking just two points from their previous seven league matches, providing what seemed to be ideal opposition for those cheering on one of the great underdog stories.
Yet, Mjallby’s biggest opponents when it came to earning three more points today was the weather. Heavy wind and rain forced a pitch inspection, but the officials ultimately determined the match would go ahead.
The conditions played their part in both sides taking their time to adapt, but when Besfort Zeneli flashed an effort from range just wide midway through the half, it appeared the visitors were gaining a foothold.
In fact, that acted as a wake-up call for the hosts, who dominated for the rest of the first 45 minutes. Herman Johansson had the first effort on goal soon after, following a good move, before he then sent in a low cross for Jacob Bergstrom, who fired over from a perfect position.
Captain Tom Pettersson had two chances from corners - one blocked on the line, the other saved - then Timo Stavitski and Abdoulie Manneh tried their luck.
Six minutes before the break, the hosts finally scored the goal they had been threatening. The ball was worked to Stavitski on the left, and his shot was parried by goalkeeper Isak Pettersson straight to Bergstrom, who couldn’t miss.
Approaching the break, centre-forward Bergstrom went down in the area, but the referee waved away his penalty claims, and Mjallby had to be content with a one-goal lead at the break.
As in the first half, it took an off-target Zeneli effort to spark matters into life, but again it was Anders Torstensson’s side who grabbed the momentum, and in some style.
Just before the hour mark, Viktor Gustafsson picked out Pettersson in the centre, and this time he would not be denied, catching the ball on the volley and powering past his namesake in the Elfsborg goal.
Crossing proved to be Mjallby’s most effective tactic in the second half, as Abdullah Iqbal and Bergstrom both had headers saved, while Johansson beat the offside trap but lofted a ball over the top over the bar.
Elfsborg sent a few teasing balls into the MAIF box in the latter stages, but the Boras side failed to generate a single shot on goal in the match. A Frederik Ihler shot five minutes from time, expertly blocked by the heroic Pettersson, was the closest they came to setting up a grandstand finish.
In the end, it was a comfortable afternoon for the home side - their 2-0 win was their 19th victory in 26 matches this season, losing just once, and though the title is not yet wrapped up, the manner in which they will surely clinch it has been remarkable.
Hammarby now must win at in-form Goteborg tomorrow. If they do, then Mjallby need only do the same when they face Goteborg in the very next round.