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Harambee Stars' Timothy Ouma led Elfsborg to the Europa League group stages with a decisive win in penalty shootouts.
Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma played a pivotal role in IF Elfsborg's thrilling qualification for the Europa League group stages after a nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Norwegian heavyweights Molde on Thursday night.
The match, which stretched into extra time and penalties, ended in a dramatic 4-2 shootout win following a tense 1-1 aggregate score.
From the initial whistle Ouma's presence on the pitch was commanding orchestrating play and energizing his team with a mix of precise passing and strategic positioning.
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13:30 - 27.08.2024
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Firat handed Ouma his debut at 17 when he was at Nairobi City Stars, and the talented youngster is now on the verge of helping Elfsborg qualify for the 2024/2025 Europa League group stage.
The match began with Elfsborg exerting high pressure on the Molde players disrupting their rhythm and dominating the early exchanges.
The first significant chance of the match fell to Elfsborg in the 11th minute when Jalal Abdullai advanced on the right flank feeding Ahmed Qasem who set up Michael Baidoo. Unfortunately Baidoo's effort was straight at the Molde goalkeeper missing a golden opportunity to take the lead.
The match continued with Elfsborg maintaining control creating several half-chances. Terry Yegbe's headed attempt from a corner and Simon Hedlund's shot over the bar highlighted their offensive efforts.
Molde began to find their foot in the closing stages of the first stanza slowing the pace and looking to strike a balance. They created a couple of scoring opportunities with a low shot in the 40th minute that was comfortably saved by Elfsborg’s goalkeeper, Isak Pettersson.
The second half saw Molde become more assertive finding the net in the 62nd minute after a fluid passing sequence that culminated in a goal confirmed following a lengthy VAR review. The goal brought the aggregate score to 1-1, setting the stage for a tense finish to the match.
Elfsborg responded vigorously ramping up the pressure as they searched for a winner in regular time. Both teams had opportunities with Elfsborg’s Buhari Ibrahim coming tantalizingly close in the dying seconds of regulation time his header just failing to meet a cross at the far post.
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Extra time mirrored the regular play with both sides cautious, minimizing risks and focusing on defensive solidity. Few clear-cut chances were created but extra time failed to produce a winner the match moved to penalties.
In the shootout, Elfsborg showcased their composure. Following Molde’s initial successful penalty, Pettersson made a crucial save that shifted momentum.
Elfsborg’s shooters, including Michael Baidoo, Simon Hedlund, and Besfort Zeneli, executed their kicks flawlessly. The decisive moment came when Niklas Hult stepped up and confidently placed his penalty high to the left of the goal, sealing Elfsborg’s passage to the Europa League group stages.
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07:00 - 30.08.2024
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Post-match Ouma was celebrated both for his endurance having played the full 120 minutes and his tactical acumen which were vital in navigating this high-pressure game.
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