Örebro SK's comeback was successful, and the club immediately established itself as a team subscribing to top positions in Allsvenskan. Already in the first year, ÖSK qualified for the play-offs (fourth) for the championship but lost the semi-final against IFK Norrköping. In 1990 the club was able to yet again reach the semi-finals (finishing third) but this time IFK Göteborg proved too strong in a nerve-wrecking play-off were IFK Göteborg keeper Thomas Ravelli made one of the saves of his career on a header from the home team captain Sven Dahlkvist.