Elfsborg outplayed and overrun – yet close to points

The victory at home against Roma echoed throughout Football Europe. Galatasaray at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul was a completely different story. Still, Elfsborg managed to give the Turkish giant club a match despite being on the brink of hopeless disadvantage at halftime. Galatasaray won with 4–3.

» Published:

Elfsborg outplayed and overrun – yet close to points
Photo: Khalil Hamra/AP/TT

Share this article

Bang, bang, bang, and the Allsvenskan seventh-placed team left the first half in a pretty mixed state. It was a thrashing that was well-deserved.

Galatasaray's 3–0 could easily have been 5–0 or 6–0 – if not for Isak Pettersson's great play between the posts.

Unlucky Own Goal

Still, Elfsborg's goalkeeper had real bad luck. Abdülkerim Bardakci's header against the post hit Pettersson, and the ball – to 2–0 – sneaked in behind him.

Mauro Icardi's and Baris Yilmaz's goals framed Pettersson's own goal.

The superstars Dries Mertens and Victor Osimhen created chance after chance when Galatasaray played out a large part of their broad register.

Then, in the 53rd minute and completely against the flow of the match, Niclas Hult reduced the score after being served an open goal by Simon Hedlund. Goals change matches – and suddenly Elfsborg took control in a completely different way than before.

Shortly after, Baris Yilmaz hit the ball away with his hand. After a long and thorough VAR check, referee Matej Jug pointed to the penalty spot.

Ice-Cold Baidoo

Michael Baidoo did as against Roma – placed the 2–3 reduction ice-cold.

Elfsborg went for an equalizer, but despite several fine attacks, they couldn't get the chances that could have given an extremely unexpected point.

Instead, Yunus Akgün offered a brilliant dribbling number in the penalty area and dunked in 4–2 with seven minutes left of regular time.

Johan Larsson's reduction in stoppage time gave new contact and new hope, but Elfsborg didn't get any closer in the thrilling and entertaining match.

We wanted to try to win the second half and not piss it away. It was out and try to win the second and see where it leads. We stand up, win that (3–1) and show that we stand up against this kind of opposition, says Larsson to Disney+.

After three played matches in the Europa League, Elfsborg stands on three points thanks to the 1–0 upset at home against Roma. Elfsborg lost away to AZ Alkmaar with 2–3 in the opening match.

Braga awaits in Borås on November 7.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Record Crowd Witnesses Norwegian Victory as Angeldahl Scores for Real Madrid

Record Crowd Witnesses Norwegian Victory as Angeldahl Scores for Real Madrid

Felicia Schröder's Late Goal Secures Draw for Häcken Against Atlético

Felicia Schröder's Late Goal Secures Draw for Häcken Against Atlético

Vingegaard Nears Victory in Tour of Spain Amid Protests and Arrests

Vingegaard Nears Victory in Tour of Spain Amid Protests and Arrests

Ice Hockey Player Sentenced for Assaulting Referee in Sweden

Ice Hockey Player Sentenced for Assaulting Referee in Sweden

Jacob Josefson Returns to Hockey After Four-Year Hiatus

Jacob Josefson Returns to Hockey After Four-Year Hiatus

Ludvig Åberg Shares Lead at Stormy Wentworth PGA Championship

Ludvig Åberg Shares Lead at Stormy Wentworth PGA Championship

Axnér Extends Contract with Swedish Women's Handball Team Through 2028

Axnér Extends Contract with Swedish Women's Handball Team Through 2028

Chelsea Faces Investigation for 74 Rule Breaches by FA

Chelsea Faces Investigation for 74 Rule Breaches by FA

Athletics World Championship Begins in Tokyo as Duplantis Seeks Qualification

Athletics World Championship Begins in Tokyo as Duplantis Seeks Qualification

Daniel Kindberg Joins Ukrainian Army Amid Legal Battle

Daniel Kindberg Joins Ukrainian Army Amid Legal Battle

Anton Källberg Exits WTT Champions Macao in Round of Sixteen

Anton Källberg Exits WTT Champions Macao in Round of Sixteen

Swedish Star Felix Claar Shines in Magdeburg's Champions League Win

Swedish Star Felix Claar Shines in Magdeburg's Champions League Win

Duplantis Faces Challenge from Karalis Ahead of Tokyo World Championship

Duplantis Faces Challenge from Karalis Ahead of Tokyo World Championship

Diribe Welteji Faces Potential Ban from World Championship in Tokyo

Diribe Welteji Faces Potential Ban from World Championship in Tokyo

SHL Clubs See 102 Million Kronor Rise in Salary Costs

SHL Clubs See 102 Million Kronor Rise in Salary Costs

Germany's Stunning Three-Pointer Secures European Championship Semifinal Spot

Germany's Stunning Three-Pointer Secures European Championship Semifinal Spot

Christian Eriksen Joins Wolfsburg After Training with Malmö FF

Christian Eriksen Joins Wolfsburg After Training with Malmö FF

Färjestad Secures First SDHL Win Against HV71

Färjestad Secures First SDHL Win Against HV71

Hammarby Fined 220,000 Kronor for Pyrotechnics in UEFA Match

Hammarby Fined 220,000 Kronor for Pyrotechnics in UEFA Match

Ben Proud Joins Enhanced Games After Olympic Silver in Paris

Ben Proud Joins Enhanced Games After Olympic Silver in Paris