Ghanaian striker Jalal Abdulai enjoyed a bittersweet evening as his Swedish club, Elfsborg, battled to a 1-1 draw against Rijeka in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League qualifier.
The 19-year-old opened the scoring for Elfsborg in the 25th minute, showcasing his immense talent on the European stage. However, his night took a dramatic turn when he was sent off for a second yellow card in the 56th minute. Despite his early exit, Jamlal Abdulai has been a standout performer for Elfsborg, having already netted three goals in four UEFA Champions League qualifiers this season.
Niko Galesic equalized for Rijeka in injury time of the first half, leaving the tie evenly poised ahead of the second leg in Sweden on August 15th. Unfortunately, Jalal Abdulai will miss the crucial encounter due to his suspension. His absence will be a significant blow for Elfsborg as they bid to progress to the next round
Fellow Ghanaians Michael Baidoo and Terry Yegbe were also in action for Elfsborg, with Baidoo playing 78 minutes and Yegbe playing the entire match.
Elfsborg will now shift their focus to domestic duties as they prepare to face GAIS in the Swedish Allsvenskan on August 11th.
