Historic Win for Djurgarden in UEFA Conference League
Djurgarden makes history by reaching the UEFA Conference League semi-finals, defeating Rapid Wien 4-1 in the quarter-final second leg.
Djurgarden made history by reaching the UEFA Conference League semi-finals, defeating SK Rapid Wien 4-1 in Vienna to secure a 4-2 aggregate win. The match went into extra time, where Tobias Gulliksen scored two crucial goals, helping Djurgarden become the first Swedish team to reach the last four of a major European competition since Goteborg's UEFA Cup win in 1987.
Gulliksen expressed his pride and excitement after the match, saying, “What an amazing feeling. I am so proud of the team and the fans. It was an intense game. We had to be sharp and ready for what was happening.” He added, “After the 90 minutes, the coach told us to stay calm and wait for openings. I missed a chance in the first half, but my second and third chances went in.”
Gulliksen highlighted the team's strength and resilience, stating, “We have already shown that we have a lot of strength - and weaknesses as well.” The win marks a significant milestone for Djurgarden, and the team will look to build on this momentum as they progress to the semi-finals.
Historia ✨
— Djurgården Fotboll (@DIF_Fotboll) April 18, 2025
Djurgården möter Chelsea FC i semifinalen av UEFA Conference League! pic.twitter.com/sJ8Y3KliPv
Djurgarden's journey to the semi-finals nearly stalled when Keita Kosugi scored a stunning late goal from outside the area, putting his team ahead 2-1 on the night. However, this setback was short-lived, as Tobias Gulliksen scored twice in extra time to seal the win.
Kosugi described his goal as “lucky,” saying, “I am so happy, it was a fantastic game. I can't say anything more. It was a lucky goal with my right foot. I think it was the most important goal of my career.” Despite the ultimate win, Kosugi's goalkeeper teammate wasn't able to savor the moment as his team fell short.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals, Kosugi is excited to face Chelsea, saying, “To play against Chelsea is going to be a big experience for me. I have never played against such a good team. Of course it's going to be a tough game but we can beat Chelsea as a team.”
Djurgarden's head coach, Jani Honkavaara, urged his players to stick to their game plan before the match. However, a red card to Rapid Wien's Mamadou Sangare in the seventh minute didn't necessarily work in Djurgarden's favor, according to Honkavaara. “I don't know if I'm more tired than the players! But the players gave everything,” he said.
Honkavaara explained that playing against a man down complicated Rapid Wien's game, saying, “The red card for them confused our game a bit. It's not always easy to play against a man under because then you try to do a bit too much, you try to play a bit too fast.” He added that Djurgarden regained control in the second half, creating numerous chances.
Djurgarden's coach, Kim Honkavaara, expressed his pride and satisfaction after the team's historic win, saying, “It was a tight game and we gave everything, and I'm really happy for the players.” He struggled to put into words the magnitude of the achievement.
Overturning a first-leg deficit ✅
— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) April 18, 2025
A first-ever European semi-final ✅
Djurgården are your #UECLPOTW winners! 👏 pic.twitter.com/D2wfHEGn6N
Honkavaara is looking forward to facing Chelsea in the semi-finals and hopes to have a fuller squad to choose from. “It's one of a kind and it's unbelievable to go through from this. I believe in it and I believe the players believe in it,” he said. “It's an unbelievable feeling and, of course, thinking a bit ahead, it's difficult to understand that we go - hopefully not with 14 players - against Chelsea.”
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