Dalkurd on track to avoid relegation from Swedish first division after draw with IFK Gothenburg

Dalkurd FF was back on track to avoid relegation in Sweden’s first division after a 1-1 draw over IFK Gothenburg on Sunday.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Dalkurd FF was back on track to avoid relegation in Sweden’s first division after a 1-1 draw over IFK Gothenburg on Sunday.

Midfielder Simon Strand scored the only goal of the first half in the 33rd minute as Dalkurd looked set to pick up their second win in three matches.

However, IFK Gothenburg was awarded a late penalty in second-half stoppage time which was converted by Giorgi Kharaishvilli.

The Kurdish-affiliated Swedish football club’s last win was on Aug. 17 when they beat Sirius 3-2.

After 20 games (3-4-13), Dalkurd currently sits in 15th place on 13 points. Their poor form has seen them drop 13 points from winning positions this season.

Dalkurd’s next league match is against mid-table side Kalmar FF on Sep. 17 at 8:00 p.m. Erbil time.

Based in the Swedish city of Borlänge, Dalkurd was founded on Sep. 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.

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

Now in the first level of Swedish football, Dalkurd faces the prospect of UEFA Champions League or Europa League qualification—an opportunity awarded to the top three teams in the Allsvenskan league.

However, with their recent form, the club will be hoping to avoid relegation and stay in the Swedish first division for another season.