Ariana

Ground: Hyllie Idrottsplats

Visits: 1

Date: 19th June 2021

Match: Ariana - VMA 2-0 (Division 3 Södra Götaland)

Attendance: 100

Ariana are playing the 2025 season at Malmö Stadion

Ariana FC was formed in 2015 and the club´s ambition is to create a modern club and advance to Allsvenskan. That might sound strange but after consecutive promotions from the bottom tier Ariana are now playing in Division 3. With an updated website and having active social media channels I have to say the club looks much more professional than most other clubs at his level. Ariana play at Hyllie IP in Malmö and despite knowing it would be a very warm day I set off towards Malmö looking forward to the game this afternoon. As I arrived my car said 34 °C but I had brought plenty of water and fruits to keep me alive. I found a bench in the shadow and started to chat with the guy next to me. He had seen me taking a few pictures and (recognizing my accent) he asked if I was from the local paper. I told him about groundhopping and when I mentioned being in England regularly he suddenly said “I have played two seasons for Oxford”. I was quite surprised and felt a bit embarrassed not recognizing him. I was chatting to Pål Lundin who played 13 seasons for Öster, mostly in Allsvenskan, and with his temper he was a profile in the 80s and 90s. The visitors in today´s game were VMA and Pål has a son playing for them. VMA is a club representing the villages Vånga, Mjönäs and Arkelstorp. All three villages are just north of Kristianstad btw.

Ariana were strict with complying with the 100 spectators rule and once 100 fans had passed the entrance the gates were closed. For being in a big city Hyllie IP is an ok ground to visit. A grass pitch, no running tracks and a hill on the east side made sure the 100 present had a good view of the game. VMA scored early on but the goal was ruled out for offside. Ariana were then the by far better team and if it hadn´t been for some heroic saves by the VMA keeper it would have been 2-0 or so to Ariana at half-time. It was a hot day in Malmö today but Ariana looked a good side who kept on running against the VMA defense and it was only a matter of time until Ariana would score. Despite having a player sent off Ariana could win 2-0 and that was a thoroughly deserved victory.

East Stand

South End

Kick-off

View of play

East side

View of Hyllie IP

North End

Corner flag (Afghanistan)

East Stand

East side

East Stand

Refreshments

Pano