Kalmar FF Seizes Crucial Edge in Promotion Race with Wild 3-2 Victory Over Oddevold
On a brisk October afternoon at Guldfågeln Arena, the Superettan promotion race produced another memorable chapter as Kalmar FF rallied back from a halftime deficit and ultimately survived a late scare to defeat Oddevold, 3-2, in a match that will linger long in the memory for its drama and consequence.
For nearly an hour, Oddevold looked every bit the side that arrived in Kalmar as surprise contenders, brimming with the confidence earned from a run that has seen them topple established names and secure a place in the division’s top four. When Alexander Almqvist pounced on a defensive lapse and slotted home in the 43rd minute, the visitors’ bench erupted—a reward for smart, resolute pressing that had stunted Kalmar’s rhythm throughout the first half.
Kalmar, whose recent form has been marked by an imposing mix of attacking flair and steely resilience—a single defeat all season, and five unbeaten coming into the afternoon—emerged from the break transformed. Their resurgence began just before the hour mark, as Malcolm Stolt latched onto a deft through ball and buried a right-footed finish past Oddevold’s keeper in the 58th minute, restoring parity and igniting the home crowd. Just three minutes later, another wave of red shirts crashed forward, and this time it was Saba Mamatsashvili who found the net, sweeping home after a scramble in the area to edge Kalmar ahead.
The match, now bristling with urgency, saw both sides create chances as Oddevold fought to restore their earlier composure. Kalmar, energized and increasingly assertive, pressed for a third. Their pressure paid off when Robert Gojani capitalized on a loose ball in the 79th minute, coolly slotting home what seemed the clincher at 3-1.
But Oddevold, undaunted, responded immediately. Barely two minutes after Gojani's strike, Albert Ejupi nodded in from close range, setting up a frantic final stretch in which the visitors pressed for an equalizer and Kalmar’s back line scrambled to maintain their slender lead. The final whistle, when it came, was met with a roar of relief and celebration from the Kalmar faithful.
This victory may well prove a defining moment in the race for promotion. Kalmar FF’s impressive record—now boasting 55 points from 26 games, with just one loss all campaign—tightens their grip on second place, trailing only the runaway leaders. The five-match unbeaten streak, including recent wins over Brage, Örebro, Sandviken, and Västerås, has seen them pull clear from the chasing pack, and today’s resilience under pressure underscored their credentials as a side built for the highest levels of adversity.
For Oddevold, the result is a bruising setback, but not a terminal one. Their own rise—thirteen wins from twenty-six, punctuated by a handful of well-earned draws and commanding wins like the 4-0 over Brage last month—has been one of the stories of the Superettan season. Yet today, their failure to hold a halftime lead on the road exposed the fine margins that separate the league’s established contenders from its ambitious challengers. Oddevold remain in fourth place, still firmly in the playoff picture but now looking anxiously over their shoulders as the pack tightens in pursuit.
Neither side can afford to dwell long on the drama of the day. For Kalmar, the road ahead beckons with the promise of a top-flight return—if they can maintain their composure and momentum through the season’s final weeks. The margin for error, though strengthened by today’s win, remains slim. Oddevold, meanwhile, must regroup quickly, mindful that any slip in form could see the playoff dream slip from their grasp. Their resilience, so often their calling card, will be tested again as the campaign enters its decisive phase.
If future meetings echo the tempo and tension of today’s encounter, Swedish football fans can look forward to more afternoons like this one—where ambition and anxiety intertwine and the line between triumph and regret is measured in moments.