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Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma scored a crucial goal as IF Elfsborg fought back against IFK Norrkoping in a hard-fought Allsvenskan match.
Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma was on target as his side IF Elfsborg battled to a 2-2 draw against IFK Norrkoping in an Allsvenskan played at the Boras Arena on Thursday night.
The 20-year-old former Nairobi City Stars starlet played the full 90 minutes showing both attacking flair and defensive responsibility in a tightly contested encounter.
The match started brightly for IF Elfsborg who immediately took control of the proceedings as hosts pressed hard and pinned the visitors back early on.
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Their efforts paid off in the 12th minute when Michael Baidoo netted the opener following a brilliant team move.
Simon Hedlund delivered a precise cross from the right, which Arber Zeneli expertly flicked to Baidoo, who finished with a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 for Elfsborg.
However, the joy was short-lived as disaster struck just five minutes later. Nigerian defender Ibrahim Buhari was shown a straight red card after a last-man tackle, leaving Elfsborg to play the remaining 73 minutes with only ten men.
The sending-off shifted the momentum in favor of IFK Norrkoping who began to dominate possession and push Elfsborg back into their own half.
Despite being down a man, Elfsborg’s defense remained resolute for the remainder of the first half, denying the visitors any clear-cut chances. The half-time whistle blew with Elfsborg holding on to their slender 1-0 lead.
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The second half saw Norrkoping come out with renewed attacking intent. Ten minutes after the restart, their persistence paid off. A well-worked move from the right saw the ball deflect off an Elfsborg defender and into the net, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 55th minute.
Just eight minutes later, Norrkoping took the lead after a long ball caught the Elfsborg defense off guard. A mix-up between the goalkeeper and defenders allowed Norrköping's forward to lob the ball into the back of the net from distance, making it 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
Faced with adversity, IF Elfsborg regrouped and mounted a spirited fightback. Ouma, who had been a pivotal figure throughout the match, came to the rescue in the 73rd minute.
The Kenyan midfielder unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, which took a deflection off a Norrkoping defender and ricocheted off the crossbar into the net. The equalizer, much to the delight of the home crowd, made it 2-2 and set up a tense final 15 minutes.
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With renewed energy, Elfsborg continued to press for a winner. Substitutes Per Frick and Johan Larsson injected fresh life into the team as they created several dangerous opportunities. However, Norrkoping’s defense held firm, while their goalkeeper made crucial saves to deny Elfsborg the decisive goal.
In the closing stages, both teams had chances to steal all three points, but a crucial save from Elfsborg goalkeeper Isak Pettersson and strong defensive work from Gustav Henriksson ensured the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Timothy Ouma's performance will be remembered not only for his goal but also for his work rate and versatility.
The 20-year-old dropped deep to support the defense after Buhari's red card, proving his maturity and value to the team.
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The result keeps Elfsborg in the mix at the top of the Allsvenskan standings with Ouma continuing to shine in Sweden's top flight.
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