Via two straight home victories, Östersund has surprised large parts of basketball Sweden by forcing a fifth and absolutely decisive semi-final match in Norrköping tonight.

Alva Stark, 24, who is the basketball league's youngest head coach, is not surprised that her team has fought back.

- We have been underdogs all season, but despite that have been able to prove ourselves time and time again.

It was nice to come home and play in front of our fantastic audience in Östersund.

Now it will be extra fun to get the chance to play a decisive match and we will come to Norrköping with new confidence, says Alva Stark who puts over the favorite.

- Before the semi-finals, most of them tipped 3-0 to Norrköping.

So it is clear that they are and were favorites, but we are here to win and have shown that no one can count us out.

Newcomer a victory from the final

Östersund got a place in the ladies' basketball before this season and during its first full and still ongoing season, the newcomer is now now a victory from the Swedish Championship final.

- That there was a break in the match meant that we had a six-month long pre-season where the girls had to build up physically.

That we have a completely unique team spirit where the girls are like one big family in combination with the fact that they are very good at basketball has taken us to where we are today, says Stark.

Östersund and Norrköping have met six times so far this season and all meetings have ended with home victories for each team.

Stark is clear about how her team will break the trend, where she believes that the psychological aspect can play a big role.

New situation for Norrköping

- We come to the match with two straight victories and will build on the feeling that victories give.


At the same time, Norrköping is now facing a win or lose match for the first time this season, she says and continues.

- In terms of play, it will be important for us to continue to put the defensive that we managed at home.

We must be aggressive on the defensive to stop Norrköping's fine shooting.

Going forward, we will then play our fast basketball and put each other in good positions.

The match returns at 18:00 and the winner meets the reigning champion Luleå in the final.