2026-04-22, 05:08 AM - Word count:
MD4 – Stockholm IK v Atletico Medellin:
Stockholm IK came into this one with quiet momentum. Three wins from three, including clean-sheets in their last two, had set the tone, and there was a growing sense that Manager Rich Wynne, might actually know what he’s doing.
Much of the pre-match attention, though, fell on Stockholm’s new signing Arsene Cardinet, whose three assists on his debut the previous week, had marked him out as a player to watch, but more importantly, a player who the opposition fans would probably prefer not to.
Atletico Medellin arrived at the Nelson Mandela Stadium with a mixed string of results - one defeat, one draw, one win. However, their emphatic 3-0 victory last time out against early contenders Port Royal, suggested they were beginning to find some rhythm.
The opening exchanges carried an edge of caution. Medellin probed in spells, looking to build on their recent confidence. The first real chance fell to the home team, though. A looping - if not slightly overhit - cross from Datbasted somehow found Pow on the far side, who played a quick one-two with Pedersen, before bursting into the box, only to be met by someone much bigger, stronger, but less handsome, in the form of Medellin defender, Nunez, who defended well before instigating a counter.
It proved to be a small warning sign to Stockholm of the danger Medellin can pose on the break. That said, Stockholm dished out some warning’s of their own. A perfectly-timed tackle by Talli, followed by a neat flick from Pedersen, sent Stockholm straight down the other end. The ball found Wynne in the centre circle, who drove forward before releasing Pow down the right, but his cross couldn’t quite pick out Van Huntelrooy - the League’s current top scorer with 6 goals to his name - but who on this occasion, was nothing more than a slightly frustrated spectator. Medellin didn’t get very far, though. The ball ended up back with Datbasted, who curled one towards the back post, and the awaiting Pow, but once again Nunez was there first, and Pow must’ve been expecting it was going to be a long afternoon.
But when Stockholm do attack, they don’t tend to ask politely. A clearance was swept up by Pedersen, who delivered a lovely cross to Wynne at the back post, but his first-time volley took a slight deflection and drifted narrowly wide – it certainly raised the volume, but the score-line remained the same.
Stockholm kept the pressure on. Another corner from Pedersen - who up to now had been knocking up assists like they were going out of fashion - was met by Krpan, but his header drifted harmlessly over this time.
There was a blow for the travelling Medellin fans shortly after, as Nunez - who, up to now, had been holding things together at the back almost single-handedly - was forced off on a stretcher in the 16th minute, bringing an abrupt end to what had been an impressive start to his game.
During the brief pause that followed, with players rehydrating and awaiting the restart, Stockholm wing-back-come-attacking midfielder Pow was spotted kneeling alone by the touchline, whispering something under his breath while examining what could only be described as a small, crudely-made figurine of what looked to be Cthulhu. I’m sure it was nothing.
But it was the away side who responded the strongest, after the stoppage. A sloppy ball from Talli was seized upon by Medellin striker, Maple, who surged into Stockholm’s box with intent. For a moment, it looked like the warning signs might finally turn into something more, but some last-ditch defending from Krpan - and Talli who had recovered well - ensured the danger was snuffed out before it could properly develop.
In the 22nd minute, Medellin won a promising free-kick just inside Stockholm’s half. But a wasteful ball found its way only as far as Wynne, and the danger was gone. For Stockholm at least. Wynne playing it out to Talli in the centre of the pitch, who returned the favour and sent Wynne on another one of his trademark pitch-length marathons down the left flank. Just as it seemed like he’d finally run out of pitch, he fizzed a low ball in to the box, where new boy Cardinet was lurking, to sweep a delicious first-time effort across goal and into the far corner. 1-0 the the hosts, courtesy of Medellin’s own set-piece.
The onslaught continued as Stockholm went close to getting an instant 2nd. Pow dismantled another Medellin move like he was taking apart a Lego set, leading to a slick sequence of passing between Azzola and the backline. Stockholm now starting to show glimpses of what we’d seen in their previous games. Cardinet picked it up in the centre circle, feeding Wynne, who released Datbasted down the wing. The defender’s low cross was blocked, only for the loose ball to land perfectly back in to the lap of Wynne - who channelling the forbidden energy of a 10th Dan Practitioner of the famous Drunken Monkey Style - unleashed a strike so unorthodox it defied the laws of physics, and nearly doubled their lead. The ‘keeper beaten, only for the woodwork to step in and heroically come to Medellin’s rescue. Stockholm kept throwing punches, but the score somehow remained the same.
In the 37th minute, Medellin decided to test if Stockholm ‘keeper Moew enBach was awake. Enter their left-back, confusingly named Goalkeeper, who actually is a goalkeeper, but had somehow found himself playing at left-back, and who’d suddenly transformed into prime Maldini. He powered his way into the box, sparking a chaotic game of pinball before the ball finally ricocheted into the grateful hands of EnBach. It turns out he actually suffers from clinical insomnia, so there’s your answer.
Ironically, it was Medellin who were caught napping just 2 minutes later. A slick short-corner routine went from Pedersen to Pow through to Talli, who floated a peach of a cross to the back-post. Lurking there was the ‘Dutch Destroyer’ Van Huntelrooy who made no mistake this time, and mercilessly buried his header into the top corner for his 7th goal of the season.
Striking while the iron was hot, Stockholm started to shift through the gears. Some nice passing caused a chorus of smug cheers from the home faithful, who were now really enjoying what they were seeing. Another ball by Pedersen on the right was met by Cardinet, but his header was just wide.
Medellin showed some fleeting signs of life right before the half-time whistle. Ramirez unleashing a rocket of a free-kick destined for the top corner, but the eternally awake EnBach managed to tip it away. Ramirez then went close again, whistling the loose ball just over the crossbar. Despite the late scare, the hosts cruised into the interval nursing a 2-0 lead.
Whatever Wynne put in their half-time Cheerios clearly did the job, as Stockholm came out swinging, straight from the kick-off, going close to adding a 3rd. Pedersen again being given acres of space down the flank, whipping in a cross for Van Huntelrooy, who at this point, was circling the visitor’s box like a shark on the scent of blood, but his effort sailed just over.
Moments later, it was a case of Deja Vu - an almost carbon copy of the previous move happened a few minutes later. Pedersen’s cross this time finding Wynne in the box whose towering header (brand new sentence unlocked) was comfortably claimed by Neuer.
Then came 15-20 minutes of pure nonsense. A period which lacked any form of rhythm or control. Neither team able to find a foothold, and more loose balls than Johnny Knoxville in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.
Stockholm still looked the likelier, though, when in the 76th minute Cardinet teed up Datbasted, whose effort from just outside the box was saved by Neuer. And it was the left-back again who was becoming a thorn in Medellin’s side, picking the ball up on the left and surging into the box, only to be denied by the post. At this point, the woodwork was putting in a serious claim for POTM (That’s Post of the Match, not to be confused with the POTM, which is Pissed-Off Team Manager, and is still very much up for grabs).
Stockholm thought they’d got their 3rd 83 minutes into the game. Pedersen, inevitably, curled one in from the left this time, and Cardinet, who was becoming a real handful for opposition teams, buried the header – only for the flag to spoil their fun, as it was chalked off for a tight, but correct, offside.
It finished 2-0 to Stockholm, though, who hold on to top spot with 4 wins from 4 and remain 2 points clear of Adowa Accra, who also picked up another win against Port Royal earlier in the evening. Next up for Stockholm: bottom club Istanbul, who are still hunting for their first win, and to improve on their current record of only 1 goal from their first 4 fixtures.
That’s it for MD4, thanks for tuning in. I’ll be back next time to see if Stockholm can keep their 100% record intact, or if someone can finally figure out how to stop them.
Stockholm IK came into this one with quiet momentum. Three wins from three, including clean-sheets in their last two, had set the tone, and there was a growing sense that Manager Rich Wynne, might actually know what he’s doing.
Much of the pre-match attention, though, fell on Stockholm’s new signing Arsene Cardinet, whose three assists on his debut the previous week, had marked him out as a player to watch, but more importantly, a player who the opposition fans would probably prefer not to.
Atletico Medellin arrived at the Nelson Mandela Stadium with a mixed string of results - one defeat, one draw, one win. However, their emphatic 3-0 victory last time out against early contenders Port Royal, suggested they were beginning to find some rhythm.
The opening exchanges carried an edge of caution. Medellin probed in spells, looking to build on their recent confidence. The first real chance fell to the home team, though. A looping - if not slightly overhit - cross from Datbasted somehow found Pow on the far side, who played a quick one-two with Pedersen, before bursting into the box, only to be met by someone much bigger, stronger, but less handsome, in the form of Medellin defender, Nunez, who defended well before instigating a counter.
It proved to be a small warning sign to Stockholm of the danger Medellin can pose on the break. That said, Stockholm dished out some warning’s of their own. A perfectly-timed tackle by Talli, followed by a neat flick from Pedersen, sent Stockholm straight down the other end. The ball found Wynne in the centre circle, who drove forward before releasing Pow down the right, but his cross couldn’t quite pick out Van Huntelrooy - the League’s current top scorer with 6 goals to his name - but who on this occasion, was nothing more than a slightly frustrated spectator. Medellin didn’t get very far, though. The ball ended up back with Datbasted, who curled one towards the back post, and the awaiting Pow, but once again Nunez was there first, and Pow must’ve been expecting it was going to be a long afternoon.
But when Stockholm do attack, they don’t tend to ask politely. A clearance was swept up by Pedersen, who delivered a lovely cross to Wynne at the back post, but his first-time volley took a slight deflection and drifted narrowly wide – it certainly raised the volume, but the score-line remained the same.
Stockholm kept the pressure on. Another corner from Pedersen - who up to now had been knocking up assists like they were going out of fashion - was met by Krpan, but his header drifted harmlessly over this time.
There was a blow for the travelling Medellin fans shortly after, as Nunez - who, up to now, had been holding things together at the back almost single-handedly - was forced off on a stretcher in the 16th minute, bringing an abrupt end to what had been an impressive start to his game.
During the brief pause that followed, with players rehydrating and awaiting the restart, Stockholm wing-back-come-attacking midfielder Pow was spotted kneeling alone by the touchline, whispering something under his breath while examining what could only be described as a small, crudely-made figurine of what looked to be Cthulhu. I’m sure it was nothing.
But it was the away side who responded the strongest, after the stoppage. A sloppy ball from Talli was seized upon by Medellin striker, Maple, who surged into Stockholm’s box with intent. For a moment, it looked like the warning signs might finally turn into something more, but some last-ditch defending from Krpan - and Talli who had recovered well - ensured the danger was snuffed out before it could properly develop.
In the 22nd minute, Medellin won a promising free-kick just inside Stockholm’s half. But a wasteful ball found its way only as far as Wynne, and the danger was gone. For Stockholm at least. Wynne playing it out to Talli in the centre of the pitch, who returned the favour and sent Wynne on another one of his trademark pitch-length marathons down the left flank. Just as it seemed like he’d finally run out of pitch, he fizzed a low ball in to the box, where new boy Cardinet was lurking, to sweep a delicious first-time effort across goal and into the far corner. 1-0 the the hosts, courtesy of Medellin’s own set-piece.
The onslaught continued as Stockholm went close to getting an instant 2nd. Pow dismantled another Medellin move like he was taking apart a Lego set, leading to a slick sequence of passing between Azzola and the backline. Stockholm now starting to show glimpses of what we’d seen in their previous games. Cardinet picked it up in the centre circle, feeding Wynne, who released Datbasted down the wing. The defender’s low cross was blocked, only for the loose ball to land perfectly back in to the lap of Wynne - who channelling the forbidden energy of a 10th Dan Practitioner of the famous Drunken Monkey Style - unleashed a strike so unorthodox it defied the laws of physics, and nearly doubled their lead. The ‘keeper beaten, only for the woodwork to step in and heroically come to Medellin’s rescue. Stockholm kept throwing punches, but the score somehow remained the same.
In the 37th minute, Medellin decided to test if Stockholm ‘keeper Moew enBach was awake. Enter their left-back, confusingly named Goalkeeper, who actually is a goalkeeper, but had somehow found himself playing at left-back, and who’d suddenly transformed into prime Maldini. He powered his way into the box, sparking a chaotic game of pinball before the ball finally ricocheted into the grateful hands of EnBach. It turns out he actually suffers from clinical insomnia, so there’s your answer.
Ironically, it was Medellin who were caught napping just 2 minutes later. A slick short-corner routine went from Pedersen to Pow through to Talli, who floated a peach of a cross to the back-post. Lurking there was the ‘Dutch Destroyer’ Van Huntelrooy who made no mistake this time, and mercilessly buried his header into the top corner for his 7th goal of the season.
Striking while the iron was hot, Stockholm started to shift through the gears. Some nice passing caused a chorus of smug cheers from the home faithful, who were now really enjoying what they were seeing. Another ball by Pedersen on the right was met by Cardinet, but his header was just wide.
Medellin showed some fleeting signs of life right before the half-time whistle. Ramirez unleashing a rocket of a free-kick destined for the top corner, but the eternally awake EnBach managed to tip it away. Ramirez then went close again, whistling the loose ball just over the crossbar. Despite the late scare, the hosts cruised into the interval nursing a 2-0 lead.
Whatever Wynne put in their half-time Cheerios clearly did the job, as Stockholm came out swinging, straight from the kick-off, going close to adding a 3rd. Pedersen again being given acres of space down the flank, whipping in a cross for Van Huntelrooy, who at this point, was circling the visitor’s box like a shark on the scent of blood, but his effort sailed just over.
Moments later, it was a case of Deja Vu - an almost carbon copy of the previous move happened a few minutes later. Pedersen’s cross this time finding Wynne in the box whose towering header (brand new sentence unlocked) was comfortably claimed by Neuer.
Then came 15-20 minutes of pure nonsense. A period which lacked any form of rhythm or control. Neither team able to find a foothold, and more loose balls than Johnny Knoxville in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.
Stockholm still looked the likelier, though, when in the 76th minute Cardinet teed up Datbasted, whose effort from just outside the box was saved by Neuer. And it was the left-back again who was becoming a thorn in Medellin’s side, picking the ball up on the left and surging into the box, only to be denied by the post. At this point, the woodwork was putting in a serious claim for POTM (That’s Post of the Match, not to be confused with the POTM, which is Pissed-Off Team Manager, and is still very much up for grabs).
Stockholm thought they’d got their 3rd 83 minutes into the game. Pedersen, inevitably, curled one in from the left this time, and Cardinet, who was becoming a real handful for opposition teams, buried the header – only for the flag to spoil their fun, as it was chalked off for a tight, but correct, offside.
It finished 2-0 to Stockholm, though, who hold on to top spot with 4 wins from 4 and remain 2 points clear of Adowa Accra, who also picked up another win against Port Royal earlier in the evening. Next up for Stockholm: bottom club Istanbul, who are still hunting for their first win, and to improve on their current record of only 1 goal from their first 4 fixtures.
That’s it for MD4, thanks for tuning in. I’ll be back next time to see if Stockholm can keep their 100% record intact, or if someone can finally figure out how to stop them.
![[Image: powww1-png.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/1RW0crjn/powww1-png.jpg)
