The Angels are flying high in the Allsvenskan.
IFK Göteborg won its second-straight league match and third-straight overall April 7, knocking off Brommapojkarna 2-0 in its home opener at Gamla Ullevi. A crowd of 11,273 watched as the Blåvitt got off to their best start in 13 years.
“We’ve given ourselves a chance,” said IFK captain Tobias Hysen. “Now, it is up to us to take advantage of it.”
Göteborg has yet to allow a goal this season in a competitive match as goalkeeper John Alvbåge rides a 180-league and 270-minute overall shutout streak. The Angels beat Helsingborg 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Swedish Cup in between their two league victories. The start to the 2013 season is a complete turn-around from 2012, when the Angels’ revamped, star-studded lineup failed to gel. Still, Hysen said there is a long way to go in the season.
“We have six points now. In recent years it has taken us six, seven games to get it together,” Hysen said. “Now we are involved from the start, but we still have to work hard all the time and remain humble. Things can change in a heartbeat.”
As well as the season is going for Göteborg, it has been something of a disappointment for Hysen. After scoring five goals in three matches in the Swedish Cup group stage in March, the IFK captain has yet to find the net, including a pair of missed penalties, one against Helsingborg the other against BP.
“A miss is just a miss, but two misses, that’s when I have to think I am doing something wrong,” said Hysen, who said he would not take the next penalty Göteborg receives. “Sometimes, you just have to hand over the reins.”
Göteborg is one of just two teams to claim maximum points in the first two matches of the year. IFK Norrköping got its season off to a 2-0 start with a 2-1 over Gefle at Nya Parken.
Djurgården, meanwhile, faces possible disciplinary action after fans disrupted the match April 8 with Mjallby at Stockholm Stadium. DIF fans threw objects at Mjällby players after Gbenga Arokoyo scored in the 37th minute to put MAIK in front. As Mjällby players celebrated, a beer bottle struck Arokoyo in the head. Match officials consulted with police and decided to suspend the match.
The Svenskafotboll Disciplinary Committee must now rule on whether to continue the match in a closed stadium—meaning no fans—or if it finds DIF at fault, it can award Mjällby a 3-0 forfeit win.

By Chipp Reid

IFK Göteborg 2, Brommapojkarna 0
GÖTEBORG—The Blåvitt got off to a 2-0 start after a 2-0 win over Brommapojkarna April 7 in front of 11,372 fans at Gamla Ullevi. Philip Haglund tallied in the 27th minute to put the Angels in front. It was his first goal of the season and came off a pass from Sam Larsson, who has three assists in two matches. David Moberg Karlsson scored his first goal of the season at the 64-minute mark to put the game away.

Malmö 3, Åtvidaberg 1
ÅTVIDABERG—Malmö claimed its first win of the season, beating Åtvidaberg 3-1 April 5 at Kopparvallen. Erik Friberg scored twice in the second half to break open a 1-1 game. Magnus Eriksson put Malmo in front after 38 minutes with his first of the season. Kristian Bergström tied the score second before the interval. Friberg put Malmö in the lead in the 56th mninute off a pass from Eriksson. He notched his second of the game in the 67th minute off a pass from Jiloan Hamad.

IFK Norrköping 2, Gefle 1
NORRKÖPING—Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson had a goal and assist to lead IFK Norrkoping to a 2-1 win over Gelfe April 7 at Nya Parken. Thorvaldsson put Peking on top after 20 minutes. Mikael Dahlberg tied the game in the 52nd minute. Gefle went down a man four minutes when Anders Wikström picked up two yellow cards in less than two minutes. Imad Khalili scored the game winner for Peking three minutes from time off a pass from Thorvaldsson.

Halmstad 1, Elfsborg 1
HALMSTAD—Defending champion Elfsborg remained winless in two matches after a 1-1 draw April 7 with Halmstad at Orjans vall. James continued his torrid season-opening scoring, firing Elfsborg in front after 42 minutes. The goal was his third in two games. Elfsborg handed Halmstad the equalizer when Joakim Jörgensen hauled down Mikael Boman inside the penalty area just a minute later. Stefan Selakovic scored on the ensuing spot kick but Halmstad could capitalize on its man advantage and the match ended in a deadlock.

Helsingborg 1, Öster 1
VÄXJÖ—Helsingborg manager Roar Hansen returned to Öster for the first time since guiding his former team to the Allsvenskan and left with a point as Helsingborg and Oster battled to a 1-1 draw April 7 in Växjö. Mattias Lindström put HIF on top after 26 minutes. Pablo Pinones Arce tied the game one minute from time.

AIK 0, Syrianska 0
SOLNA—The first Allsvenskan match at the new Friend’s Arena ended in a draw as AIK and Syrianska played to a scoreless draw April 7. A crowd of 43,443 turned out for the match. AIK set a Scandinavian record with more than 32,000 season tickets sold.

Kalmar 0, Häcken 0
KALMAR—Erit Berisha returned to goal for Kalmar and notched a shutout as Kalmar and Hacken played to a scoreless draw April 7 at Guldfågeln Arena in Kalmar.