Hammarby opened Allsvenskan 2026 with a convincing 3-0 win over reigning champions Mjällby. Paulos Abraham scored a hattrick at 3Arena in front of 30,162 spectators. Mjällby players were deeply disappointed with their performance.
Hammarby dominated Mjällby in the Allsvenskan opener at 3Arena in Stockholm. Paulos Abraham scored all three goals: 1-0 in the 42nd minute after a controversial handball, 2-0 less than two minutes later with an assist from Nahir Besara, and 3-0 right after halftime. Hammarby's new coach Kalle Karlsson praised the team's performance.
Mjällby, who conceded only 18 goals all last season, saw their solid defense collapse. It was their first time conceding three since July 2024, also against Hammarby. Coach Karl Marius Aksum took the blame: "Hammarby hit very well with their game plan, we miss totally with ours." Players Elliott Stroud, Axel Norén, and Tom Pettersson called the performance awful and questioned themselves.
Paulos Abraham enjoyed his success: "Not everyone gets to experience something like this." Nahir Besara assisted two goals and described the match as electric. No team has won the SM-gold after losing the opener since 1993.
Next week, Mjällby face Örgryte at home and Hammarby visit Sirius away. The team from Sölvesborg will meet Hammarby again in the cup final in about a month.
