Setback for Kurdish football club Dalkurd in Swedish league after 3-1 loss

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdish-affiliated football club Dalkurd FF’s decline continues as they suffered back-to-back defeats in Sweden’s Superettan league with a 3-1 loss to opponents IK Brage on Thursday.

The Kurdish club got off to a flying start, scoring a goal through striker Simon Alexandersson after six minutes in the first half.

However, two goals in quick succession from IK Brage turned the match upside down. Midfielder Anton Gustav Lundin scored in the 11th minute before forward Christian Kouakou added a second nine minutes later.

Despite having most of the possession, Dalkurd found themselves two goals behind when IK Brage winger Robbin Sellin made it 3-1 two minutes before the half-time whistle.

In the second half, Dalkurd again enjoyed large spells with the ball but were unable to capitalize on their chances. They also had to finish the game with 10 men after the referee showed Besard Sabovic his second yellow of the match in the 88th minute. 

The loss keeps them in the relegation spots as their hope for instant promotion back into Sweden’s top tier already looks unlikely.  

Dalkurd’s (2-1-5) next league match is away to Degerfors (4-2-2) on May 21 at 8 p.m. Erbil time.

Related Article: Toothless Dalkurd fall to 2-0 loss in Swedish football league

Based in the Swedish city of Borlänge, Dalkurd was founded on Sept. 26, 2004, by nine Kurdish immigrants as a social project. The club has since built academies in both Sweden and the Kurdistan Region.

The team’s colors are symbolic of Kurdistan, with the Kurdish flag included in the crest on their shirts.

Dalkurd had bull-dozed its way up the ranks of Swedish football since its 2005 introduction in Tier Seven, winning five promotions in its first five seasons.

However, after a string of poor results in Sweden’s top division, Dalkurd were relegated on the last day of the 2018 season, finishing in 15th place with 24 points (6-6-18).