AIK beat the leaders and nobody quite knew what to do with it
IK Sirius 1–2 AIK at Studenternas, and a run of six matches without a win is gone (1) (6). Johan Hove put the second one in from the spot, and the conversation since has been about whether the penalty should have been given at all (1) (8). Nordin Gerzic said what half of Uppsala was thinking: "I think there is far too little in it for it to be a penalty" (2). Sirius wanted one of their own earlier, Victor Svensson insisting he was hit (3). Both can be true. It does not change the result.
What I like about the win is that AIK had every excuse to fold. Eighth in the table before the round, 37 points from 25, goal difference of minus three, and a game that half the city's rivals wanted them to lose (4) (6). Linus Carlstrand was asked about it beforehand and did not dress it up: "I don't know how serious people are about it. They want to see us win" (10). Then they went and won it.
Ellingsen, 965 days later
The best number of the week is not 2–1. It is 965. Martin Ellingsen played his first Allsvenskan minutes for AIK after 965 days out, and called it "completely indescribable" (4) (9). A squad that hit 37 players used in one season has been running on whatever was still standing. Getting a fit midfielder back with three rounds left is worth more than the fee they did not spend in August.
The rebuild is already being booked
Filip Lukic, 19, arrives from Vasalund after the turn of the year (6). AIK are also linked with Ilves midfielder Maksim Stjopin, whose contract runs out after the season (7). Two midfielders for next spring, while this one still has an Elfsborg game to play on Tuesday.
What to watch
IF Elfsborg at home on Tuesday, then GAIS away on November 2 and Häcken at home on November 8. Ellingsen gets a second run-out, Hove stays the man who decides tight games, and a club sitting eighth can still finish a bad season well.
