More

Allsvenskan review: Malmo thrashed at Sirius as Varnamo cause shock at AIK

Robbie Ure starred for Sirius against Malmo
Robbie Ure starred for Sirius against MalmoTOBIAS STERNER / Bildbyran Photo Agency / Profimedia

After a convincing defeat in the UEFA Europa League in midweek, Malmo completed a dismal few days with a 5-1 loss away at Sirius to lose ground in the race for Europe in the Allsvenskan. Down at the bottom, Varnamo staved off relegation for another week by holding on for a shock 3-2 win over AIK.

Though leaders Mjallby earned another victory on Saturday against Elfsborg, the title is still not sealed after Hammarby held on to beat IFK Goteborg on Sunday. Read Flashscore's match reports from both fixtures below.

Mjallby 2-0 Elfsborg

IFK Goteborg 1-2 Hammarby

But while the race for first is only just about still alive, the battle for the European places is becoming harder to call, after Malmo and AIK both suffered humiliating defeats in Round 26.

The tone of Malmo's afternoon in Uppsala was set three minutes in, when Busanello turned the ball into his own net when under pressure from Robbie Ure.

Ure was the architect of Sirius' second goal midway through the first half - it was his through ball that set up a chance for Isak Bjerkebo, which he took by steering the ball into the bottom corner.

Malmo gave themselves hope seven minutes before the break, when home goalkeeper David Celic punched the ball straight to Jens Stryger, whose excellent technique allowed his volley to bounce through the crowd and into the unguarded net.

But two goals in three minutes with a quarter of the match to play killed off MFF's hopes and instead allowed Sirius to stroll to victory. Leo Walta's cross was poked in by Ure, who got the goal his day deserved, before Walta calmly rolled home number four, finishing off a swift attack.

In the final 15 minutes, Ure was clipped inside the Malmo box, and Walta stepped up guided the penalty out of Robin Olsen's reach to complete the rout. The 5-1 win was the perfect tonic for Sirius after their 8-2 defeat to Djurgarden in their previous outing.

They climb to 11th place, four points clear of the bottom three, while Malmo drop to seventh under interim manager Anes Mravac, whose side have now lost four of their last five in all competitions and conceded five in a league game for the first time since 2012.

Varnamo caused a huge surprise on Sunday when they went 3-0 up away at AIK and managed to hold on for a 3-2 win that ended a five-match losing run and keeps their slim survival hopes alive.

Goals from Rufai Mohammed, Osto Liimatta and Mohammad Alsalkhadi put the basement dwellers well clear with only 27 minutes on the clock to stun Strawberry Arena, and though Erik Flataker pulled two back in the second half, the Solna side could not complete the comeback.

It's a damaging defeat for AIK, who slip out of the top three having taken just one point from their last three games. Varnamo are still 10 points off the Relegation Playoff place with 12 points to play for, but aren't going down without a fight.

Disappointingly for Varnamo, the two sides above them all took something from this weekend. Oster took the survival battle up a notch on Saturday by beating Halmstad 3-0 - a result which keeps Oster in 14th but now only three points behind their opponents from this weekend.

Degerfors remain in 15th place, but their recent resurgence continued as they held in-form Djurgarden to a 1-1 draw thanks to Dino Vukojevic's late leveller.

It's just one loss in four for previously-plummeting Degerfors, while it's 11 unbeaten for Djurgarden, who sit sixth and only three points off the European places.

Occupying the all-important third place are GAIS, who continue to rely on their home form and this time it was Norrkoping who left with nothing, thanks to a 2-1 win. Rasmus Niklasson and Amin Boudri put the Gothenburg side in control before Moutaz Neffati scored a consolation for the visitors.

Finally, Hacken won the battle between two teams aiming to stay clear of the bottom three, beating Brommapojkarna 3-1 to climb above their opponents and into ninth place. 

Follow the race for Europe and battle for survival in the Allsvenskan on Flashscore.

Chances are you’re about to lose.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au