Syrianska FC edge Assyriska FF in five-goal thriller
Syrianska FC claimed a 3-2 win over Assyriska FF in Superettan.
The Syrianska FC coach Özcan Melkemichel made two changes to the line-up that featured in last week's 3-2 loss to IFK Norrköping: on the right flank, Kutshi Kanga replaced Saleh and in the middle Velic replaced Kunic.
It wasn't long before Syrianska FC found their feet. After Velic played Ijeh through on goal, the playmaker broke away from Thorstensson. The Syrianska FC striker raced to the edge of the penalty area, his first touch went straight at the Assyriska FF goalkeeper. Bahne made a good save to deny him a goal but the ball bounced back to Kanga who´s hard shoot went between the goalkeeper’s legs and put the “Suryoye” ahead.
Assyriska FF equalised later when Harris Skenderovic header landed at the newly brought striker Lumnica`s feets, whom lobbed the ball over the Syrianska FC keeper. Only two minutes later Syrianska FC once again took the lead. Rabi Elias shot touched Skenderovic foot and the ball took a different deflection. The Assyriska FF keeper went to the wrong direction while the ball sailed into the net.
With the score reading 2-1, Syrianska FC were well in control, but continued to pressure the Assyriska goal. Their use of width stretched the hosts defence, and their variety of attacking options kept the Assyriska FF players on their heels. Only in the dying moments of the first half did Assyriska manage to bring the ball back into their attacking third, but Llumnica posed a very lonely figure in the penalty box. The first half ended with Syrianska FC comfortably ahead as a dejected Assyriska side was left to figure out how to find their way back into the game.
After the break, Assyriska FF started well and got a corner. The home team`s biggest fear came true. Harris Laitinen turned in a Ceyhun Eris corner to give his side once again an equaliser. The shot sailed high up in the Suryoyo goalkeeper’s right side. Miller could not do anything to prevent Harris from scoring.
After the goal Melkemichel made two fast changes. He brought in Kunic, and Saleh. With a quarter hour left, Melkemichel brought also in Dinko Felic in place of Ijeh, as Melkemichel's lone striker and the Syrianska FC style of play switched to a strictly flank-based attack. Assyriska FF had their first bright spell since late in the first half, but as before, could not quite take the lead.
Seven minutes from time Dinko Felic rose above the Assyriska FF defence and headed Skenderovic's cross into the bottom right corner. Bahne went out to grab the ball but Dinko Flew up towards the sky like an Aramaic eagle and headed home the winner. The Syrianska FC crowed went crazy as they knew that this was the third time they had taken the lead and no more goals were to come.
The momentum of Assyriska would soon run out, and their hopes of taking anything from the game were vanquished in deep added time, when Jansson was sent off for a poor foul on Felic. The defender tried to pull out of his challenge, but was late and connected with the Bosnian's ankle, which was enough to earn a straight red card.
With the result already decided, the match drew to a rather quiet close. Assyriska FF struggled to keep possession in their attacking half, and a comfortable Syrianska FC´s side played out the final minutes without throwing players forward as they previously had. The result that sees the "Suryoye" leapfrog their cross-city rivals into fifth spot in the Superettan table.
Text: Emanuel Yacoub
Photo: Rickard Ström