Oscar Hiljemark’s message was clear in advance: Elfsborg is in the Europa League to compete – not just be satisfied with participating despite a tough draw.
It seems the players have listened to the coach.
Because when the Italian big team Roma came to visit Borås, it was Elfsborg who unexpectedly took the lead at the end of the first half. On penalties Michael Baidoo shot 1-0 after a hand on Tommaso Baldanzi.
Roma had had a lot of the ball – but accomplished very little.
The goal was also the only one of the match despite an Italian onslaught at the end of the second half.
Chaotic start to the season
Since Oscar Hiljemark took over the helm from Jimmy Thelin this summer, Elfsborg is one of the Allsvenskan’s strongest teams. Roma, on the other hand, is coming off a chaotic start to the season.
After just four league games, coach and club legend Daniele De Rossi was fired in September. Despite the fact that he signed a three-year contract with the club as recently as last spring. The announcement caused an outcry in the red and yellow part of the Italian capital, which has been protesting ever since.
At the same time, CEO Lina Souloukou has resigned after being threatened by supporters.
Triple change
After just over an hour of play, Roma coach Ivan Juric replaced the trio of Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy in an attempt to break Elfsborg. It was almost immediately effective when Isak Pettersson was forced into a sweaty one-handed save.
Roma then had a couple more chances to equalise. Not least Lorenzo Pellegrini who shot the crossbar.
But Elfsborg managed to grab three points, which was the team’s first in the Europa League’s new series game format. The Borås team thus also collects just over five million kroner in prize money.