Irish encounters with Swedish clubs in Europe

Ireland and Sweden will be reunited on the European stage in July as Drogheda United were paired with Malmo in the Europa League first qualifying round. Malmo, European Cup runners up in 1979, return to play a competitive tie in Ireland for the first time since 2004. That year, in the Intertoto Cup, Cork City defeated the Swedish giants 3-1 at Turner’s Cross with goals from John O’Flynn and a brace by Dan Murray. The Rebel Army clinched the tie with a 1-0 win at the Swedbank Stadion, Liam Kearney netting the winner. Cork went on to eliminate Dutch side NEC Nijmegen before being knocked out in the quarter final by Nantes of France.

Malmo had visited Ireland once before facing Irish opposition in the 1996 UEFA Cup preliminary round. Between the years of 1994 and 1996 the champions of Ireland were denied entry to the Champions League as UEFA restricted entry to the top twenty four countries. Hence, Malmo drew the 1995 League champions Dundalk. The Lilywhites were no match for their Swedish counterparts and went down 4-0 on aggregate, losing 2-0 at Oriel Park and 2-0 in Sweden.

1980 was the first occasion that an Irish and Swedish side came together in European competition. Waterford United drew IFK Gothenborg in the Cup Winners’ Cup first round. IFK would go on to win the UEFA Cup a mere two years later and the Blues held their own, going down 2-1 on aggregate, a 1-0 reverse in Sweden followed by a credible 1-1 draw in Waterford.

1995 saw Bohemians become the first League of Ireland side to enter the UEFA Inter Toto Cup. Bohs were pooled in a group with Bordeaux (France), Odense (Denmark), IFK Norrkoping (Sweden) and HJK Helsinki (Finland). Odense, who had knocked Real Madrid out of the previous season’s UEFA Cup, won 2-0 at Dalymount. Bohs scored twice but were defeated 3-2 by HJK in Finland. Dugarry and Zidane, who went on to win the World Cup with France in 1998 netted to win 2-0 in Dalymount. The final game was a comprehensive defeat in Norrkoping, Bohs going down 5-0 at the Nya Parken.

Following Malmo’s visit in 1996, IFK Gothenburg returned to Ireland to face Cork City in the 2000 UEFA Cup qualifying round. Sixteen times capped Republic of Ireland international Liam O’Brien, recently transferred from Tranmere Rovers, made his European debut for City,  but despite his experience City went down 3-0, suffering two late goals by Karlsson. The Rebel Army did restore some pride at Turner’s Cross winning 1-0, the winner coming from Pat Morley. This was the only European goal by a League of Ireland side in Europe that season , with St Pat’s, Shels and Bray all drawing blanks in their respective ties.

In the 2002 Champions League second qualifying round, Bohemians hoped to continue their European adventure, when they drew Swedish champions Halmstad. Bohs had won the double the previous season, but had replaced Roddy Collins with Pete Mahon. Mahon began the campaign in fantastic style, Shaun Maher scoring in the first minute of the first qualifying round, first leg tie against Estonia’s Levadia Maardu. Bohs went on to win the match 3-0 and a 0-0 draw in Talinn ensured a 3-0 win on aggregate.

Expectations were high at Dalymount Park when Bohs took the pitch and the old stadium erupted when Glen Crowe put the side ahead in the first half. As good as Crowe was, however, Halmstad had their own international striker in their midst, and Stefan Selakovic proved the difference between the sides, netting twice to break Bohs hearts and win the match 2-1. Bohs travelled to the Orjan Vall needing to score twice, but it was Halmstad who scored twice, goals by Jonsson and Selakovic, earning Halmstad a 2-0 win and a third qualifying tie against Belgium’s Anderlecht.

Shamrock Rovers were next to test themselves against Swedish opposition. The Hoops drew Djurgardens in the 2003 UEFA Cup qualifying round. Rovers were no match for the side from Ostermalm, going down 3-1 at Tolka Park, Stephen McGuinness netting the consolation, and 2-0 in Stockholm, exiting the competition 5-1 on aggregate.

Djurgardens may have found it easy in 2003, but on their return to Ireland to face Cork City in 2006 it was quite a different story. Cork had eliminated Lithuanian side Ekranas in the first qualifying round to earn a tie against the Swedes. Neale Fenn put City ahead in the first ten minutes but they were denied the win by a late equaliser.  Damien Richardson’s team produced a superb performance in the second leg, holding Djurgarden to a 0-0 draw, to progress to the first round of the competition. Unfortunately, Slavia Prague of the Czech Republic were too strong and eliminated City 4-1 on aggregate, 2-0 in Prague and 2-1 in Cork. George O’Callaghan netted from the penalty spot.

The following season, Derry City became the first League of Ireland side to eliminate a previous UEFA Cup winner, proving too strong for IFK Gothenburg in the UEFA Cup first qualifying round. The Candystripes won 1-0 in Sweden and 1-0 at the Brandywell, to progress 2-0 on aggregate. Sean Hargan got the winner at the Ullevi, while Stephen O’Flynn scored from the penalty spot in the home leg. In the next round Derry knocked out Scottish Cup runners up Gretna, winning 5-1 away and drawing 2-2 at home, thus earning a glamour tie with Paris St Germain. Killian Brennan hit the bar at the Brandywell as Derry drew 0-0. Alas, a 2-0 reverse in France saw Derry exit the competition at the first round stage.

Two League of Ireland sides were drawn against Swedish opposition a year later. Cork City drew Hammarby in the 2007 Inter Toto Cup second round, after defeating Valur from Iceland, while Drogheda Utd drew Helsinborg in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round, after eliminating Libertas of San Marino. Roy O’Donovan score in a 1-1 home draw, but Cork went down 1-0 at the Soderstadion to go out 2-1 on aggregate. Drogheda also drew their “home” game, the first leg finishing 1-1 at Dalymount Park. Eamon  Zayed netting for the Drogs. Helsingborg were far superior at the Olympia defeating Drogheda 3-0 to go through 4-1 on aggregate.

The most recent encounter between Irish and Swedish side was in the 2009 UEFA Cup second qualifying round. St Patrick's Athletic travelled to the Boras Arena to face Elfsborg. Pats were 2-0 down at half time in the first leg but came back to draw courtesy of a Mark Quigley penalty and a strike by Gary Dempsey. With three minutes to go in the return leg at Richmond Park, Pats were trailing 1-0. An unbelievable finish, where Jason Gavin headed home from a corner and Mark Quigley rounded the keeper to slot home into an empty net rocked Richmond Park and Pats won 2-1 on the night, going through 3-2 on aggregate. Hertha Berlin ended the dream in the following round, winning 2-0 in Germany followed by a 0-0 draw in the RDS.

Overall, Irish teams have played Swedish opposition on twenty five occasions. We have won seven, drawn six and lost twelve. Let’s hope Mick Cooke and his Drogheda United team can ensure this record improves and take hope from Malmo’s surprising run to the European Cup final in 1979.