IFK Kristianstad beat HK Malmö Women 31:22 in the Swedish Cup on 22 August 2026. The hosts took the result one step further four days after their first meeting, when they edged a 31:28 victory. By then Kristianstad had already moved to the top of the table with three wins from three games. Malmö, meanwhile, sat fourth with three draws and still no points to show.
And here's the thing about a 31:22 scoreline — it tells you the game was decided before the final whistle even blew. Kristianstad's attack kept finding gaps, while Malmö's defence looked tired from the start. The visitors had drawn their previous three matches, so perhaps the legs simply weren't there.
To be fair, Kristianstad had already proven they could handle Malmö's setup. Their last five results show a team that knows how to win close games and how to put them away when it matters. They drew 28:28 with Karlskrona earlier this month, then lost two away games before coming back strong.
Malmö's recent form tells a different story. Three draws in a row, including that 31:28 loss just four days ago, suggests a team struggling to close out matches. They'd beaten Sandefjord Women 3:0 back in March, but those were different opponents in a different competition entirely.
The result keeps Kristianstad unbeaten in five and moves them further clear at the summit. Malmö's goal difference remains unchanged, and they still have work to do to find some consistency. The Swedish Cup match was simply another reminder that the top spots don't come easy, but they certainly don't come without effort.