240818 Elfsborg’s Ibrahim Buhari during the football match in the Allsvenskan between Mjällby and Elfsborg on August 18, 2024 in Hällevik. Photo: Christoffer Borg Mattisson / BILDBYRÅN / COP 261 / CB0372 Published: 2024-08-18 16:19, Updated 2024-08-18 16:23
In a tight and tough match, IF Elfsborg and Mjällby AIF shared the points after 1-1 at Strandvallen. Elfsborg’s goal was scored by Terry Yegbe and the team put in a strong defensive effort towards the end after Timothy Ouma picked up two bookings and was sent off in the 69th minute.
The home team quickly pushed the team up in the beginning of the match and created a slight advantage when they got a couple of set pieces. First a long throw-in and where they then bit back and created two early corners. But Elfsborg’s defense stood firm and prevented Mjällby’s attempt.
After the first ten minutes, IF Elfsborg got into it more purely in terms of play. But there was continued focus on standing correctly in their positions and not offering any spaces to the home players.
In the 16th minute, IF Elfsborg took the lead. Jens Jakob Thomasen hit an inward corner towards an area close to the goal where it was dense with players from both teams. Terry Yegbe got his head on the ball and headed in 0-1 to one for the day red-clad IF Elfsborg.
It was then an even battle out on the pitch. Not so much finesse, but all the more fighting in midfield. When the teams did get to half-chances, it was often via their set pieces.
In the 27th minute came the home team’s equaliser. A Mjällby player won his duel on the left side and was able to win the ball. A quick pass into the penalty area was met with a strike and with a wide side the ball sat low next to Isak Pettersson’s left post. 1-1.
The rest of the first half was even. Where the home team had more possession, but often in their own back line. They tried on a couple of occasions to get the ball behind Elfsborg’s defence, but did not create any real scoring chances apart from a free kick in the final minutes. A free kick that Isak Pettersson took care of.
IF Elfsborg was close at one point. After a ball win, the ball ended up on the left side and an early cross was hit against Emil Holten. Elfsborg’s new striker stretched to reach the ball with his forehead, but did not get a good enough hit and the ball went over the Mjällby goal.
Second half
There was no real order at the start of the second half. With two teams that didn’t quite manage to get hold of the baton and where sloppiness in receptions and passing games meant that it went a bit back and forth out on the field.
Once the half settled down, it was the home team that took care of most of the ball possession and, just like in the first half, were heavy on their set pieces. The home team often looked for an offensive throw-in or a free kick to move players up in Elfsborg’s penalty area.
In the 62nd minute, Mjällby received a penalty after substitute Simon Hedlund knocked down a home player. But there was no goal. Isak Pettersson threw himself in the right direction and made a great save and Niklas Hult was able to clear the rebound. Still tied, then.
In the attack after, Niklas Hult had a ball in the goal at the other end of the field, but it was correctly waved offside.
In the 69th minute, Timothy Ouma received his second yellow card in a short time and was sent off. Thus, IF Elfsborg was forced to finish the match with one less man on the field. It was then natural that the focus was on the defensive game. Something the team did well from the restart.
The home team played the ball around the midfield between their defenders, but had difficulty finding their way through a compact Elfsborg team. Mjällby had to rely on trying to get around the edges or to send in long balls towards their central striker. Elfsborg’s centre-backs were strong in the air and nodded away the balls in a stable manner.
Right into the five-minute extra time, the home team tried to press with many players in Elfsborg’s penalty area. But regardless of whether it was on corners, long throw-ins or free kicks, Buhari Ibrahim, Sebastian Holmén and Terry Yegbe stood tall and together with other Elfsborg players were able to clear away the home team’s forwards.
Mjällby AIF – IF Elfsborg 1-1 (1-1)
0-1 Terry Yegbe (16′), 1-1 Herman Johansson (27′).
Starting lineup: Isak Pettersson – Sebastian Holmén, Buhari Ibrahim, Terry Yegbe – Rami Kaib (60′), Timothy Ouma, Jens Jakob Thomasen (60′), Niklas Hult – Emil Holten (60′), Michael Baidoo, Jalal Abdullai (71′).
Substitute: Marcus Bundgaard, Frode Aronsson, Johan Larsson, Simon Hedlund (60′), Besfort Zeneli (60′), Andri Baldursson (71′), Arber Zeneli, Leo Östman, Per Frick (60′).