Intertoto Cup - Hibs vs Elfsborg
July 7th 2008 12:21
Hibernian's Intertoto Cup adventure looks to be over as they slumped to a disappointing defeat at home to Swedish outfit Elfsborg last night.
The Swedes are now well into their domestic season, while the Edinburgh men just returned from holiday a few days ago and won't play a league match until August, and the difference in fitness was certainly a major factor, with the Swedes being much the sharper side throughout, and Hibs fading dramatically after the break.
The visitors were first to threaten when Denni Avdic threaded a neat pass in behind the Hibs defence and goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay had to dive bravely at the feet of Mobaeck to thwart the danger.
Hibs replied with Dean Shiels setting Steven Fletcher up for a header which flew over the crossbar. Elfsborg were zipping the ball around confidently on the wet surface and took a deserved lead on 16 minutes.
Experienced Swedish international Svensson opened up the home defence with a drilled pass and Bajrami slipped a neat angled finish beyond Ma-Kalambay.
Visiting goalkeeper Johan Wiland made a good save with his legs to keep out a fierce low strike from Filipe Morais and comfortably gathered a header from John Rankin as Hibs sought a quick response.
However, Mobaeck squandered a great chance to increase the Elfsborg advantage when he scuffed a volley wide from 10 yards.
Wiland held on to a tame Fletcher free-kick and was marginally more stretched to clutch a curling effort from the lively Shiels.
Elfsborg made an impressive start to the second half and it needed a fantastic challenge from Paul Hanlon to deny Avdic a close range shooting opportunity.
Bajrami raced past several challenges to storm into the penalty area but Ma-Kalambay was able to get down and make the vital block.
Augustsson then saw his powerful header knocked clear from the goal-line by Ian Murray as Hibs struggled to impose themselves on the game.
A loose ball broke to Fletcher on 63 minutes and the striker's shot from the edge of the penalty area was tipped away by the sprawling Wiland.
The Swedes extended their lead soon after when Hibs were caught napping at a corner as the ball was played straight to Augustsson and his deflected shot deceived Ma-Kalambay, although the keeper looked well placed to save.
The profligate Mobaeck should have punished a tiring Hibs further but he dragged a volley wide from the junction of the six yard box.
The same player was unlucky not to win a penalty when he was nicked by a mis-timed Martin Canning challenge as he shaped to shoot.
In the closing minutes, Avdic clipped the outside of the post with an angled drive.
Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen was disappointed after the game and said, "It was disappointing the way we lost but they are in full swing and we are still preparing for the season. We were slack at the back for the goals we conceded but we will learn from this and improve. We can gain a lot from this. We wanted competitive fixtures straight away and we get vital European experience. They passed the ball well and kept possession," admitted Paatelainen. "But, when you play your first game in the pre-season, you are a little bit rusty and you can run out of steam. We are not ready to play our best football yet, we are preparing for the SPL season on 9 August. But there are plenty of positives. Now we have one game under our belt and another week of training to come before the second leg. Next week the boys will be better off, we will be a little bit fitter and little wiser. It will be very difficult but we can score two goals, no problem."
Hibs travel to Sweden next Saturday for the return leg, but I doubt whether the extra week will make much of a difference to their overall fitness, which could be their downfall again.
The Swedes are now well into their domestic season, while the Edinburgh men just returned from holiday a few days ago and won't play a league match until August, and the difference in fitness was certainly a major factor, with the Swedes being much the sharper side throughout, and Hibs fading dramatically after the break.
The visitors were first to threaten when Denni Avdic threaded a neat pass in behind the Hibs defence and goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay had to dive bravely at the feet of Mobaeck to thwart the danger.
Hibs replied with Dean Shiels setting Steven Fletcher up for a header which flew over the crossbar. Elfsborg were zipping the ball around confidently on the wet surface and took a deserved lead on 16 minutes.
Experienced Swedish international Svensson opened up the home defence with a drilled pass and Bajrami slipped a neat angled finish beyond Ma-Kalambay.
Visiting goalkeeper Johan Wiland made a good save with his legs to keep out a fierce low strike from Filipe Morais and comfortably gathered a header from John Rankin as Hibs sought a quick response.
However, Mobaeck squandered a great chance to increase the Elfsborg advantage when he scuffed a volley wide from 10 yards.
Wiland held on to a tame Fletcher free-kick and was marginally more stretched to clutch a curling effort from the lively Shiels.
Bajrami raced past several challenges to storm into the penalty area but Ma-Kalambay was able to get down and make the vital block.
Augustsson then saw his powerful header knocked clear from the goal-line by Ian Murray as Hibs struggled to impose themselves on the game.
A loose ball broke to Fletcher on 63 minutes and the striker's shot from the edge of the penalty area was tipped away by the sprawling Wiland.
The Swedes extended their lead soon after when Hibs were caught napping at a corner as the ball was played straight to Augustsson and his deflected shot deceived Ma-Kalambay, although the keeper looked well placed to save.
The profligate Mobaeck should have punished a tiring Hibs further but he dragged a volley wide from the junction of the six yard box.
The same player was unlucky not to win a penalty when he was nicked by a mis-timed Martin Canning challenge as he shaped to shoot.
In the closing minutes, Avdic clipped the outside of the post with an angled drive.
Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen was disappointed after the game and said, "It was disappointing the way we lost but they are in full swing and we are still preparing for the season. We were slack at the back for the goals we conceded but we will learn from this and improve. We can gain a lot from this. We wanted competitive fixtures straight away and we get vital European experience. They passed the ball well and kept possession," admitted Paatelainen. "But, when you play your first game in the pre-season, you are a little bit rusty and you can run out of steam. We are not ready to play our best football yet, we are preparing for the SPL season on 9 August. But there are plenty of positives. Now we have one game under our belt and another week of training to come before the second leg. Next week the boys will be better off, we will be a little bit fitter and little wiser. It will be very difficult but we can score two goals, no problem."
Hibs travel to Sweden next Saturday for the return leg, but I doubt whether the extra week will make much of a difference to their overall fitness, which could be their downfall again.
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