It was relieved players who celebrated with the singing fans afterwards.
After just over an hour, Marcus Berg made it 2-0.
He came free from the right with HBK goalkeeper Malkolm Nilsson Säfqvist, tricked him, and went to the right and was able to put the ball in the open goal.
It looked like Tobias Sana's opening pass at the center line came too late, but offside Gustaf Norlin let the ball go to Berg who came perfectly into the gap and was able to advance towards the goal at the largest Ullevi arena.
In the final minutes of the first half, Gustaf Norlin came in with a post from the right edge.
Tobias Sana ran up behind the back line and put his foot there when the ball was bouncing and scored a long-awaited goal for 1-0 to IFK Gothenburg.
- Finally I got to score a goal at home in front of the fans.
My other goals have been away, says Sana.
IFK Gothenburg's Sebastian Eriksson, 32, retired after just over a quarter of a game.
According to Discovery, this is a feared torn heel tendon.
Eriksson sat on the grass after a duel with Halmstad's Mikael Boman.