It was hardly possible to complain about the entertainment after a half played between IFK Norrköping and Elfsborg. The crowd at Platinumcars Arena was treated to three goals in the space of eight minutes and then witnessed a furious Simon Strand step off the field sent off after just over half an hour of play.
The left-back had previously drawn a yellow card after an incident with IFK Norrköping’s Dino Salihovic by folding a knee towards his opponent when the ball was not in play.
Coach Jimmy Thelin did not want to criticize referee Kaspar Sjöberg in Discovery + after the match but stated:
– I have nothing to say about the referees’ decision, even though I think this is a thing that happens in every match.
When the Elfsborg player quarter later in addition Abdulrazaq Ishaq stopped from getting around the right wing, the referee Kaspar Sjöberg showed the yellow card for the second time and the expulsion was thus a fact.
During his years in Elfsborg, Simon Strand has made himself known as a hard, and often on the border, playing fullback in the Allsvenskan. The warnings against IFK Norrköping were the player’s fifth and sixth for the season – and he did not seem to be particularly understanding of the referee’s decision.
On the way out of the pitch, he took his coach Jimmy Thelin by the hand and was heard saying “what a joke” before pushing away a TV camera from a cameraman, who he obviously thought was too close, so that it went into the ground.
Teammate and captain Johan Larsson on the situation:
– It’s probably most frustration. You want to curl up and not get more attention than you already are after a red card and be left alone out there. I hope and believe that there will be no aftermath.
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Before that, Elfsborg had took the lead, lost it and regained command in the match that is so important for the Allsvenskan top in Norrköping.
After 13 minutes, the Dane Jeppe Okkels put a low input from Rasmus Alm in the net meshes out of reach of goalkeeper Oscar Jansson. The equalizer came from Carl Björk just six minutes later when he caressed 1-1 for IFK Norrköping from the penalty area line.
The reply from Elfsborg then lasted only three minutes when Per Frick scored his seventh goal of the season and put 2-1 for the away team. With an away win, Boråslaget had risen to the same points as league leader Malmö FF in the Allsvenskan – something that turned out to be too difficult a task with one man less on the field.
A well placed corner kick from Linfs Wahlqvist was followed by Linus Wahlqvist’s hard but accurate header.
Five minutes later was the turnaround completed. With a pass diagonally backwards, Abdulrazaq Ishaq found the successful player Samuel Adegbenro who with full force sprinkled his 16th goal of the season and arranged the match decisive 3-2 for IFK Norrköping.
– It’s tough. I think we make a very good match according to the conditions. I think we handle it incredibly well, says Jimmy Thelin and continues:
– I am very proud of the players.
Despite Frederik Holst also drawing his second yellow card and being sent off in overtime, Elfsborg managed with nine outfield players to wash out a couple of equalizing chances – but without getting a dividend.
“Beijing” is thus back on the winning track after three straight winless matches. Gold-hunting Elfsborg will have to take new steps at home against Varberg next weekend – but without Simon Strand who has to adjust to a time suspension.
– Of course he’s sorry. He has been one of our best players this season. We know what situation we are in and what three points would have meant today. To be sent off in the first half is not fun, says Johan Larsson to Discovery +.
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