After a postponed start due to the weather, it was finally a semi-final speedway in Småland.
Denmark's Rasmus Jensen took an important third in the eleventh heat with a late overtake and suddenly the Lions' lead was down to four points 35–31 with four heats remaining.
One heat later and the lead was up to eight points thanks to Polish star duo Bartosz Zmarzlik and Jaroslaw Hampel's five-one.
Zmarzlik won the first nomination heat
The lions wanted more to take with them to the return in Målilla, but instead the Dackarna countered immediately with a five-one, the first of the evening for the away team.
Brady Kurtz and Jensen took the lead right away, held it lap after lap and cut it to 41–37 heading into the nomination heats.
Zmarzlik won the 14th heat, but the Lions had to settle for 3–3.
Dominik Kubera and Hampel's neat run in the last heat gave 5–1 and victory for the Lions with 49–41.
Teurnberg: "We are strong at home"
Weather permitting, the return will be decided on Tuesday next week.
- It was tough, as we thought before.
If they can win by eight here, we can win by eight at home.
We are strong at home.
It is important to set the tone already in the first heat and we will do everything we can.
We want to reach the final, says the Danish team manager Mikael Teurnberg to C More.
The first match in the second semi-final will be decided on Monday next week in Eskilstuna, when the Smederna receive the Rospiggarna.