IF Elfsborg took three heavy points in the Europa League when they beat AS Roma at a boiling Borås Arena. The only goal of the match was scored by Michael Baidoo from the penalty spot.
It was a charged yellow-black team that showed good energy when the match started. IF Elfsborg set full speed and pressed the visitors high up the field in the opening minutes. After a couple of minutes of play, Roma had taken command of possession and played passing games in their own half and up the midfield.
IF Elfsborg were united in their defensive play and kept the Italian team away from their penalty area. At the same time, they pushed themselves up in short, quick attacks.
After a quarter played, Elfsborg had a good period and created scoring chances. Arber Zeneli shot low after a conversion, but the goalkeeper saved for a corner. In the corner, it became even more dangerous when Gustav Henriksson added the boiler. The header was saved on the goal line by visiting defenders.
As it approached the half-hour mark, it was the visitors who took control of the game and pushed Elfsborg deep into the defensive positions. The guests combined so when through on a couple of occasions, but Isak Pettersson and the defenders resisted in a good way.
Arber Zeneli was lively during the half and would have a nice position after 41 minutes of play. He shot on the volley and the goalkeeper was there again and could steer away.
After 43 minutes of play, IF Elfsborg received a penalty for handball on a Roma player. Michael Baidoo placed the ball on the penalty spot and was cool as he slotted in the lead. 1-0 IF Elfsborg!
Second half
The visitors quickly connected a game-like grip after the break and at times played a quick passing game and moved from side to side and forward in the field. But the yellow and black team worked hard together and did not allow the Italians to find their way into the penalty area.
Elfsborg sometimes ended up deep in their own half, but continued to be accurate and focused in the defensive game.
With the clock on 66 minutes, AS Roma pressed and got into shooting positions. Isak Pettersson made a fine save when he was quickly down and steered away a low and sharp shot. The next shot position was blocked by yellow-black defensive legs.
IF Elfsborg was always ready when they won the ball. As soon as a Roma pass was broken, yellow and black worried the visitors by setting off in transition situations. They also alternated between calming down the game and resting with the ball in their possession.
With just over twenty minutes left in the match, IF Elfsborg had a good period where they were the team that played an attacking game and forced the away team to play defensively.
Towards the end of the period, the visitors pressed more and more, but Di Gule ran for each other and sacrificed himself when Roma tried the luck of the shot. In the 83rd minute, the visitors’ best chance of the match came when the ball hit the crossbar.
IF Elfsborg continued into extra time to work hard for each other while being carried forward by the fantastic atmosphere at Borås Arena. After four minutes of added time, the referee blew the match off and IF Elfsborg took three nice points in the Europa League.
IF Elfsborg’s manager Oscar Hiljemark:
– We are of course very happy to win and take three points. I think we started the game well and played a good first half overall. There are a couple of situations where we have problems with Roma but overall we are doing well.
– In the second half, I think we start solidly. Then they change a couple of players which puts our players to the test and we handle it in a good way. We also have a couple of opportunities ahead where we can be sharper. I am very proud of the performance that we made over 90 minutes and that we take three points.
IF Elfsborg – AS Roma 1-0 (1-0)
1-0 Michael Baidoo (44′ str).
Starting lineup: Isak Pettersson – Buhari Ibrahim, Gustav Henriksson, Terry Yegbe – Simon Hedlund, Timothy Ouma, Besfort Zeneli, Niklas Hult – Arber Zeneli (62′), Michael Baidoo (86′), Ahmed Qasem.
Substitute: Marcus Bundgaard, Melker Uppenberg, Rami Kaib, Johan Larsson, Andri Baldursson, Jens Jakob Thomasen, Eggert Gudmundsson, Gottfrid Rapp, Jalal Abdullai (62′), Per Frick (86′), Emil Holten, Leo Östman.
