Allsvenskan Round 23: The highest-scoring team in the league now holds the highest perch.
BK Häcken continued its unlikely run toward the Allsvenskan title after knocking off Djurgården in yet another 3-0 win. The victory vaulted Häcken into a tie on points with Elfsborg, which has led the league almost from the start of the season.
Sundsvall held Elfsborg to a scoreless draw in Round 23, which allowed Häcken to pull level. However, the Göteborg club owns an overwhelming lead in the main tiebreaker, goal difference. The three goals against DIF gave Häcken 53 goals in 23 games this season, against 27 allowed. Its plus-26 goal difference is 11 goals better than Elfsborg, which scored 37 times while allowing 22 goals.
Häcken and Elfsborg have identical 14-3-6 records.
Although it currently tops the standings, no one at Häcken is popping champagne just yet. Malmö FF and AIK are just two behinds the top two teams at 43 points. Both have 12-7-4 records. Malmö has a plus-12 goal difference while AIK has a plus-11.
With just seven matches remaining in the 2012 season, Häcken three major hurdles as it looks for its first-ever Swedish crowns – matches with Helsingborg, IFK Göteborg and AIK. Elfsborg plays AIK in Round 24 but then faces the six teams at the bottom of the standings in its final matches, giving the Borås side a slight edge in the schedule.
Häcken’s edge comes from its offense. As though the high-scoring Göteborg side needed more scorers, Häcken recently added Ghanaian striker Nasiru Mohammed to its ranks and got Liberian striker Dioh Williams back from injury. The additions give Häcken –which already has league-leading scorer Waris Majeed and Rene Makondele Muzola -- arguably the strongest front line in the league.
Häcken holds its destiny in its own hands. If it matches results with Elfsborg and doesn’t drop points to Malmö or AIK, Häcken’s offense firepower could just about guarantee a first-ever title for the Göteborg club. What remains to be seen is how Häcken’s mix of youngsters, foreigners and its sprinkling of veterans reacts to the rigors of a pennant chase.
In that respect, Malmö, AIK and Elfsborg all hold an edge as they have veteran lineups that have been involved in fighting for a title right down to the final minute of the last match of the season. Whether Häcken wilts under the pressure or remains tough could well decide where the Lennart Johansson trophy ends up in November.
By Chipp Reid

BK Häcken 3, Djurgården 0
STOCKHOLM – Waris Majeed scored his league-high 19th goal of the season to help pace Häcken to a 3-0 win over Djurgården Sept. 21 at Stockholm Stadium. A pair of veteran players got Häcken started as Björn Anklev and Dioh Williams staked BKH to a 2-0 lead after 54 minutes. Majeed struck at the 82-minute mark. The win lifted Häcken into first place, level on points with Elfsbrog but ahead on goal difference.

Kalmar 2, Åtvidaberg 0
KALMAR - Abiola Dauda scored twice to lead Kalmar to a 2-0 win over Atvidaberg Sept. 23 at Guldfageln Arena. Dauda scored in the 26th and 80th minutes. He is the second-leading scorer in the Allsvenskan with 13 goals.

Gefle 1, Mjällby 0
GÄVLE - Jakob Orlov scored for the first time in three months to lead Gefle to a 1- 0win over Mjallby Sept. 23 at Strömvallen. Orlov tallied in the 18th minute. The goal was his first in the league since May.

AIK 2, IFK Norrköping 2
NORRKÖPING – AIK squandered a chance to grab a share of first place when it blew a late lead and settled for a 2-2 draw Sept. 23 with Norrköping at Nya Parken. Celso Borges scored in the 20th minute to give AIK the lead. The goal was his eighth of the season and extended his scoring streak to four games. Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson tied the match at the 72-minute mark with the first of his two goals on the day. Kwame Amponsah Karikari put AIK back on top in the 84th minute. Thorvaldsson tied the game for a second time three minutes later.

Örebro 2, Syrianska 2
SÖDERTÄLJE – Örebro picked up a valuable point in its battle to avoid relegation, playing to a 2-2 draw with Syrianska Sept. 23 at Södertälje Football Arena. Shptemi Hasani put ÖSK in front after four minutes. It was his first goal for Örebro since joining the team from Norrköping in August. Dinko Felic and Sharbel Touma put Syrianska in front with second-half goals. Alhassan Kamara fired in an injury-time equalizer for Örebro.

Helsingborg 1, Malmö 1
HELSINGBORG – Malmö salvaged a point in the second Skåne derby of the season, playing to a 1-1 draw with Helsingborg Sept. 23 at Olympia Stadium. Jere Uronen put the defending champions on top in the 56th minute. Wilton Figueiredo tied the game for MFF four minutes from time.

Elfsborg 0, Sundsvall 0
BORÅS – Elfsborg dropped out of first place for the first time since April after a scoreless draw with Sundsvall Sept. 23 at Borås Arena. Elfsborg played with a man advantage for 62 minutes after Sundsvall midfielder Kevin Walker received a direct red card for a flagrant foul.