On Wednesday evening, IK Sävehof bounced back from last week’s loss against Alingsås HK. Two points were secured after a 39–36 victory at home against HF Karlskrona.
– We stood for a really good team effort tonight. This was a step in the right direction after the last match, stated head coach Linus Ekman.
Compared to Friday’s meeting with Alingsås, it was a completely different tempo from Sävehof in Wednesday’s Christmas gift match in Partille Arena. Already during the opening ten-minute period, the team had worked their way into a two-goal lead on a couple of occasions and around the half-time mark of the first half came a first, slightly more proper push that would last.
On Friday, Sävehof scored 20 goals in the entire match – this time it only took 27 minutes to reach the same number. Birgir Steinn Jónsson then scored 20–16 and at halftime the team led 21–17. The first two goals after the break then came from David Sandberg and Isak Vedelsböl, which increased security even more.
– Very nice to have a stable lead at that stage and we felt that maybe there should have been another goal. It was a nice feeling for the whole group that we led the game in the second half as well, said Linus Ekman.
At most, Sävehof led with six balls, but towards the end Karlskrona reduced the difference so that it fluctuated between two and three. Even that situation was handled well by Ekman’s players.
– I still think we had a pretty good grasp of them. We knew what we had to do and constantly came up with opportunities offensively. There were a few free position saves from it starting to run away more, but instead it was even.
Sävehof held off all the way, not least thanks to some heavy finishes from Sebastian Durlanu. The final result was finally determined by Truls Grötta when he made it 39-36 with barely a minute left to play.
– I think we played a really good game, both offensively and defensively, although the defensive numbers may not reflect that. We had some small dips which we kept down to shorter sequences and on many levels we played a very good match. Tonight we showed why you should come and check us out here in Partille Arena.
– I am proud that we managed to gather our strength after so many matches, training sessions and video briefings as there have been this autumn.
This was the last game before Christmas. According to tradition, the next day’s match awaits in Partille Arena, where Sävehof this season faces VästeråsIrsta.
– On Thursday we gather for a bit of prehab, gym and recovery. Then we have a video review before the Västerås match and then a light training session before we take the Christmas break. The players of course get their own training program with both running and the gym before we get together again.
IK Sävehof – HF Karlskrona 39–36 (21–17)
IK Sävehof’s goal scorers: Sebastian Durlanu 6, Magnus Persson 5, David Sandberg 5, Truls Grøt 5, Leon Halle 4, Tobia 4, Tobia Tromler 3, Malte Celander 2, Birgir Steinn 1.
HF Karlskrona’s goal scorers: Isak Larsson 10, Arnór Vidarsson 7, Noah Martinsson 5, Albin Stenberg 4, Emil Hansson 4, Hugo Sivertsson 2, Trondur Mikkelsen 1, Karl Jönsson 1, Jonathan Andersson 1 and Tobias Nordahl 1.
– Erik Malmqvist
