PREVIEW: WEEKEND SWEDISH ACTION Arch Bell - Thursday, July 30, 2009
Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro take on bottom feeder Orgryte in Monday Allsvenskan action while the Americans at Ljungskile look for three Superettan wins in a row against Sirius.
Orebro - Orgryte
Three points should be on the docket this Monday for Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro who host last place Orgryte at Behrn Arena.
After coming on as a second half substitute and scoring two goals in a draw against Hacken on Monday, Bedoya should warrant strong consideration for a starting spot in head coach Sixten Bostrom's lineup.
The Florida native's strikes were his first goals on the season having it all come on the heels of an ankle injury that kept the Boston College alum out of action the previous week.
Bedoya helped his cause to be a starter against Orgryte by scoring a goal in a midweek reserve match versus Laxa.
Orebro currently sit in sixth place with 23 points and a win could rekindle hopes of playing in European competition next year.
The visitors from Gothenburg come into Monday's match actually riding a three match unbeaten streak which included their lone win on the season, but still remain relegation bound sitting at the bottom of the table with just seven points.
Norwegian head coach Age Hareide will look to his defense to put the clamps on the Orebro attack as the Orgryte offense has only scored a paltry eight goals in 16 matches.
Adding to the difficulty, Hareide may be without starting midfielder Sebastian Johansson who sustained a thigh injury in last week's match versus Hammarby.
Bostrom may be without starting goalkeeper John Alvbage after the Swedish international sprained his toe in training earlier this week. Defender Fredrik Nordback is also injured and questionable for Monday's encounter.
Ljungskile - Sirius
Ljungskile return home this Sunday with their sights set on a third straight league victory as they take on Sirius at Starke Arvid Arena.
Defenders Ryan Miller and Etchu Tabe will be tasked with thwarting the Sirius attack as they each will likely get the starting nod in the hosts' backfield.
Fellow defender Sam Brill has been relegated as of late to the club's reserve team and will likely not see any minutes while disgruntled goalkeeper Colin Burns will watch this one from the stands.
Two consecutive victories for the first time all season have lifted Ljungskile above the relegation zone since the initial weeks of the campaign.
The hosts currently sit in 11th place in the Superettan standings and a win over the visitors would leapfrog Ljungskile over Sirius who are 10th with 17 points.
Sirius are directed by head coach Jens Andersson who will be looking towards striker Petter Österberg to put pressure on Miller and Tabe and add to his season total of seven goals.
Ljungskile player/coach Jorgen Walemark will once again be without midfielders Mathias Carlsson and Jacob Flingmark while Andersson will hopes to fill a hole in the back due to the absence of defenders Daniel Blomgren and Fredrik Söderbring whom are both injured.
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