Oscar Hiljemark's message was clear beforehand: Elfsborg is in the European Championship to compete – not just to be satisfied with participating despite a tough draw.
It seems that the players have listened to the coach.
For when the Italian giant Roma came to visit Borås, it was Elfsborg who unexpectedly took the lead at the end of the first half. On a penalty, Michael Baidoo shot 1–0 after a handball by Tommaso Baldanzi.
Roma had a lot of ball possession – but achieved very little.
The goal also became the only one in the match, despite an Italian onslaught in the end of the second half.
I think we're in it from the start and we have the biggest chances throughout the match. They have a shot on goal here at the end, but overall a fantastically good match, says Arber Zeneli to Disney+.
I think Roma underestimated us a bit, continues the Elfsborg player.
Chaotic season start
Since Oscar Hiljemark took over the reins from Jimmy Thelin last summer, Elfsborg has been one of Allsvenskan's strongest teams. Roma, on the other hand, comes from a chaotic season start.
Already after four league matches, the coach and club legend Daniele De Rossi was fired in September. Despite having signed a three-year contract with the club as recently as last spring. The news caused an uproar in the red and yellow part of the Italian capital, which has been protesting since then.
At the same time, CEO Lina Souloukou resigned after being threatened by supporters.
Triple substitution
After a little over an hour of play, Roma coach Ivan Juric made a triple substitution, bringing in Artem Dovbyk, Paulo Dybala, and Stephan El Shaarawy in an attempt to get a grip on Elfsborg. It almost had an immediate effect when Isak Pettersson was forced to make a sweaty one-handed save.
They make some okay substitutions in the last 30 minutes. No, I'm impressed, what a team, says Hiljemark about his squad.
Roma then had a few more chances to equalize. Not least Lorenzo Pellegrini, who shot into the crossbar.
They created some chances, which Roma maybe should do, says the Elfsborg coach to Disney+.
But Elfsborg managed to snatch three points, which was the team's first in the European League's new group stage format. The Borås team thus also earned around five million kronor in prize money.
25 September: AZ Alkmar (away) 2–3
3 October: Roma (home) 1–0
23 October: Galatasaray (away)
7 November: Braga (home)
28 November: Athletic Bilbao (away)
12 December: Qarabag (home)
23 January: Nice (home)
30 January: Tottenham (away)
