Jamaica's Khari Stephenson

An early goal from Jamaica international Khari Stephenson propelled his Swedish Allsvenskan team, AIK Stockholm, to a 2-0 win over first division club IFK Malmo in the second round of the Svenska Cupen, the knockout cup, last Thursday.

Six yards away from goal, Stephenson turned a low cross in the area into the back of the net in the 29th minute. The goal was the first of the season for the central midfielder, who played the entire 90 minutes of the fixture.

Lucas Valdemar'n then put the winners further ahead in the 31st minute when he blasted home from the penalty spot. The assignment will, however, get a bit tougher for the Reggae Boy as AIK will now have to tackle fellow top flight contenders Gefle on May 18.

Average start

In league play, AIK are off to an average start to the season, finding themselves mid-table in eighth spot after eight games. AIK are behind Halmstaad who are seventh, and Helsingborg, the former club of Reggae Boy Luton Shelton, who are currently holding sixth spot. All three teams are tied on 12 points but are separated by goal difference. Kaalmar FF are on top with 19 points.

Stephenson, the burly central 6-2 midfielder, now 27, is playing in his third season in Sweden, having first signed with Gothenburg-based club, GAIS, in 2006.

After a successful season with GAIS, Stephenson then signed a four-year deal with AIK, but suffered a setback in his first season after fracturing his arm in pre-season training. The Reggae Boy has made 29 appearances for the national team so far.