Malmö FF faces a must-win match Oct 27 against BK Häcken after Helsingborg dismantled Åtvidaberg to take a three-point lead in the standings.
The two sides went into the current round of the Allsvenskan level on points with 58 but with Malmö holding an eight-goal edge in the all-important goal-difference tie-breaker. If they remain tied on points, goal difference would decide the Swedish champion for the first time in more than 40 years.
Helsingborg took the first steps toward making sure goal difference doesn’t decide the 2010 crown by crushing lowly Åtvidaberg 3-0 on Oct. 24 at home at Olympia Stadium. Young gun Alexander Gerndt scored twice in a 12-minute span in the first half to lead HIF to the win. Gerndt has 11 goals in 13 matches for Helsingborg to go along with eight goals in 14 matches for Gefle in the first half of the season.
Erik Sundin scored in the second half for HIF, his fourth goal in as many matches for Helsingborg.
“Clearly the pressure is on Malmö now,” said Gerndt. “They must win against Häcken just to keep up with us. We have two more matches left and we have to focus on those.”
Malmö should have its full team available against Häcken, the same team that fell 1-0 on Oct. 18 to Kalmar. The game is set for Rambergsvallen in Göteborg.

by Chipp Reid