Vasteras Irsta HF vs Guif

The opening half at Expandia Arena was a closely-fought affair. Guif, knowing they required a six-goal win to progress, started aggressively and kept pace with the hosts. The score remained tight throughout the first period, with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage. VästeråsIrsta went into the break with a narrow lead, but the tie was far from settled.

The second half was a different story. VästeråsIrsta raised their defensive intensity and began converting turnovers into fast-break goals with clinical efficiency. Guif, who had matched the hosts for the first 30 minutes, could not sustain the pace after the interval. The home side pulled away methodically to post a 34–25 scoreline — their highest of the two-legged encounter.

The momentum shift came early in the second half. VästeråsIrsta tightened their defensive structure, forcing Guif into a series of rushed shots and turnovers. A decisive run in the opening minutes of the second period stretched the lead to double figures, effectively ending Guif's hopes of mounting a comeback.

VästeråsIrsta HF spread their scoring effectively, with multiple players contributing to the 34-goal tally. The team's second-half defensive work — holding Guif to single digits in stretches — was the foundation of the victory.

Eskilstuna Guif fought hard in the first half but lacked the depth to sustain their intensity after the break. Their 25-goal haul was insufficient against a VästeråsIrsta side that had found its rhythm.

Player of the match was not officially named by the Swedish Handball Federation at the time of writing.

The 34–25 scoreline tells a story of two halves: Guif matched VästeråsIrsta for the opening 30 minutes but were outclassed after the break. Across the two legs, VästeråsIrsta scored 65 goals to Guif's 51 — a 14-goal aggregate margin that reflects the home side's superiority across 120 minutes of cup football. The first leg at Volvo CE Arena finished 31–26 to the visitors, meaning VästeråsIrsta led from the outset of the tie and never relinquished control.

VästeråsIrsta HF advance to the Round of 16 (2/16-finals) of the Swedish Cup, where they will face their next knockout opponent. For Eskilstuna Guif, the cup run ends at the Round of 32 stage. Both sides now turn their focus to the Allsvenskan league campaign for the 2026/27 season.

A professional, controlled performance from VästeråsIrsta. They did what was required — and then some. The first-leg advantage allowed them to play with composure in the return, and their second-half surge confirmed the gulf between the sides over two matches. Guif were competitive for a half but lacked the firepower to overturn the deficit.