Elfsborg was one less - still defeated by Gais

Elfsborg hosted Gais at Borås Arena on Sunday, in front of 11,437 spectators.

After an exciting game with the most numbers, including two players sent off and an own goal, it was Elfsborg who retired three points behind. The final score was 2-1.

Elfsborg coach Oscar Hiljemark after the match:

– We are happy and proud. Gais is an enemy I have a lot of respect for. They have been doing great things for years and are hard to beat. We come out in a good way, start the game well and get into good situations. Then we end up in a situation; with the goal, which gives more energy to Ghais to come in, it will create a different movement. But there is great praise for the boys today and we are happy about three points, said Hiljemark at the press conference.

Gais Coach Fredrik Holmberg:

– They deservedly won, especially in the first half. We are not up to our standard. The positive thing is that we still match it and grow into it, even if we don’t reach the top.

– We play ourselves up in the second half and we are helped by the elimination. But Elfsborg are skilled at defending in their own box. We try all the way and there are good things to take away, even on a heavy day like this.

Photo: JÖRGEN JARNBERGER

Heavy feelings after own goal: “Feels like crap”

When the match started, Elfsborg pressed immediately. Gais were already punished after eight minutes, when Michael Baidoo scored 1-0 after a good pass from Niklas Hult from the left wing.

The goal of equality was not in the air. Nevertheless, Gais managed to score one in the 14th minute. Then it was Alexander Ahl Holmström who headed the ball into the goal after a corner from Robin Wendin Thomasson.

Gais grew out of the goal – and that’s why it was snowing when central defender Anes Cardaklija was going to clear a ball, but accidentally steered it into his own goal himself.

After the game, he complained about the goal.

– It felt like I had it under my control… right now it feels like shit, says Cardaklija about the situation.

– The teammates have supported me in that and told me to knock it off and focus on the next task. They helped me out there and then, so thanks to them. But now looking back it feels like piss.

Two red cards in the second half

There would be no more goals, but the match remained tight despite that.

In the 63rd minute, Ahmed Qasem was cautioned. After that, only three minutes passed before he got his second yellow – and then a red too. An Elfsborg player stamped on Axel Norén, which went unnoticed by referee Kristoffer Karlsson.

– It was very difficult. I didn’t want to put the team through that. The last game I had to jump in and close the game, but now I have to thank the team for closing without me after this, says Ahmed Qasem and added:

– We are a team and we help each other.

Gais tried to press and take advantage of the fact that they were one more player on the field, but in vain. The match ended 2-1, where Grönsvart goalkeeper Kees Sims was also sent off in extra time.

The keeper was well outside his own penalty area and blocked an attack with one hand. Center defender Axel Norén had to quickly put on a goalkeeper’s shirt and gloves to pull him in at the last minute.

Here’s how the team started:

Elfsborg (3–4–3): Isak Pettersson – Sebastian Holmén, Gustav Henriksson, Terry Yegbe – Simon Hedlund, Arber Zeneli, Timothy Ouma, Niklas Hult – Ahmed Qasem, Michael Baidoo, Jalal Abdullai.

Gais (4–3–3): Kees Sims – August Wängberg, Axel Norén, Anes Cardaklija, Robin Wendin Thomasson – Axel Henriksson, Harun Ibrahim, Amin Boudri – Gustav Lundgren, Alexander Ahl Holmström, Mervan Celik.