Ystads IF and Hammarby IF started the final series in Sweden in a tight fashion. Just the one goal put the league number one ahead of the guests Tuesday evening, Ystad took the lead after 32–31.
The Swedish play-off ends with a best of five duel for the gold. Hammarby was the underdog but showed capacity and team moral playing away. Even so, the capital team had to start without their top goal scorer, the Portuguese prodigy Vasco Costa.
Hammarby had a five goal lead that Ystad repaired with 14–17 at the break. Towards the end Ystad had gained the advantage but Hammarby came very near a last second equaliser which would have led to extra time.
– A very good match. We are pushing on messing around with what we said, but Ystad is difficult, said Hammarby´s back court player Richard Lindström in the live broadcast.
– It was incredibly fun to play today when the Ystad audience joined in. Then things went a bit up and down and it was certainly nerves involved in the end, said Ystad´s goalkeeper Erik Hvenfelt.
Ystads IF–Hammarby 32–31 (14–17)