Gigović’s Last-Gasp Winner Propels Helsingborg Past Plucky Örebro in Olympia Thriller
HELSINGBORG, Sweden—In a match heavy with tension and consequence, Helsingborg turned a late autumn afternoon at Olympia into a testament to tenacity, prevailing 3-2 over Örebro SK with a stoppage-time strike that sent home supporters into raptures and further deepened the visitors’ relegation anxieties. The script that unfolded on Sunday was classic Superettan—volatile, spirited, and ultimately decided by the finest of margins.
The game ignited swiftly, with Örebro’s veteran striker Karl Holmberg capitalizing in the 13th minute. His clinical finish marked his 13th goal of the campaign, a reward for Örebro’s spirited start and a reminder of why he’s been the visitor’s lone source of hope through a harrowing season. Örebro, mired in 15th and wrestling with relegation fears, took confidence from their recent offensive form—a four-goal outburst against Falkenbergs just a fortnight ago—but the opening salvo was always going to be tested by Helsingborg’s home resolve.
Helsingborg’s first-half response was measured, disciplined. The hosts maintained possession but struggled for incision, their rhythm blunted by Örebro’s compact midfield. Yet the second half delivered an immediate shift in intensity. Kjellnas Lukas, a name more often lauded for his dogged midfield play than goal-scoring flair, seized the spotlight in the 52nd minute. Arriving late in the box to meet a low cross, Lukas swept home the equalizer—a moment that transformed the mood and injected urgency into Helsingborg’s play.
For Örebro, this was familiar territory—a season defined by early hope, followed by defensive lapses. Yet the visitors retorted, refusing to wilt as the home side pressed forward. On 66 minutes, Erik Andersson found himself in space following a swift counter, slipping his shot past the Helsingborg keeper to restore Örebro’s lead and, for a moment, threaten a surprise result. Andersson’s cool finish reflected the kind of opportunism that has flickered through Örebro’s recent fixtures, including their dramatic 5-4 win away against IK Brage.
But Helsingborg, buoyed by their ascendancy in recent weeks—a run including emphatic wins over Trelleborgs and Sandviken—were determined not to fade on familiar ground. The response was immediate and emphatic. In the 73rd minute, Johansson Alexander—fresh off a run of scoring form with four goals in his last four matches—rose to meet a drifting cross. His header, powered with conviction, leveled matters once again and drew Olympia’s faithful to their feet. Johansson’s consistency has emerged as one of Helsingborg’s chief assets amid an uneven season marked by sharp swings in form.
With minutes ticking down and both teams desperate for the points—Helsingborg to consolidate mid-table security, Örebro to claw for survival—the match swelled with drama. Both sides exchanged blows, probing for the late incision, but it was Helsingborg who found the moment of destiny. Deep into stoppage time, Ervin Gigović ghosted in at the far post to lash home the winner. The midfielder’s decisive finish capped a breathless contest and underscored Helsingborg’s capacity for late heroics, echoing their late strikes against Trelleborgs just weeks prior.
The result carries profound implications for both clubs. For Helsingborg, three points raise them to 34 in 26 matches, solidifying ninth place and providing precious breathing room amid the division’s congested midsection. The performance, blending resilience with moments of individual brilliance, suggests a side that—despite recent setbacks—can rise to key occasions. Their progression since a goalless draw against Landskrona and a tough defeat at Umeå signals a team rediscovering its collective edge, led by Johansson’s persistent scoring touch.
Örebro, meanwhile, are left to contemplate a missed opportunity and a perilous descent toward the drop. With just 18 points from 26 matches and only three wins across a turbulent campaign, the visitors must rediscover the cohesion that powered high-scoring wins earlier this autumn. Holmberg’s contributions offer hope, but defensive frailty and a habit of squandering leads continue to haunt a side fading farther from safety.
In the broader context, the head-to-head between these sides has tended toward closely contested affairs, though Helsingborg’s recent ascendancy—now with two straight wins at Olympia—signals a subtle shift in the rivalry’s balance.
No red cards marred the spectacle; discipline held as drama surged. Yet for Örebro, the pain of defeat is compounded by the significance of the result. With relegation looming ever closer, every fixture to come will be fraught with consequence. Helsingborg, meanwhile, can look ahead with renewed confidence, the specter of the drop now receding as they set sights on a stabilized finish.
The Superettan rarely spares its participants the rigors of drama, and at Olympia on Sunday, both teams lived its full measure. For Helsingborg, victory is a lifeline and a statement; for Örebro SK, the fight for survival grows only more desperate.