Local Hero Stensson: ‘It Means the World to Me’

Daniel Stensson, hailing from Stockholm, emerged as one of the standout performers for Djurgarden last night as they convincingly overcame Pafos in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League.

Stensson netted a brilliant individual strike, propelling The Iron Stoves to a 2-0 advantage in the second leg and marking their first lead in the aggregate tie.

Djurgarden proceeded to secure a 3-0 victory, resulting in a 3-1 win on aggregate and granting them a spot in the Quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time in 69 years.

Following the match, Stensson, a lifelong supporter of Djurgarden, expressed the significance of the night to him while speaking to UEFA.com.

“This is my childhood club. I’ve grown up watching these players, and it means the world to me to play a part in our success,” he stated.

The 27-year-old played a pivotal role in the turnaround after a lackluster performance in the first leg in Cyprus, prompting manager Jani Honkavaara to urge his team “to step up and demonstrate what we’re capable of.”

Following the much-improved display at the 3Arena, Honkavaara commended his team’s resilience.

“The team showed tremendous mental strength today. That was the key factor,” he noted.

Austrian Challenge Awaits in the Quarter-finals

Shortly after their victory, Djurgarden learned they would face Rapid Vienna in the last eight, with the Austrian side defeating Bosnian outfit Borac Banja Luka 3-2 on aggregate.

The first leg is scheduled to take place in Stockholm on Thursday, 10 April, before Djurgarden heads to Vienna for the return match on Thursday, 17 April. Both encounters will kick off at 21:00 CEST.