Nilsson lifts Elfsborg to first win at Standard

Lasse Nilsson claimed two goals and an assist as IF Elfsborg posted a 3-1 comeback win at R. Standard Liège for their first victory in UEFA Europa League Group C.

Locked on one point apiece before the game, both teams were desperate to chalk up a win, and it showed in an entertaining contest. After taking the lead, Standard Liège were put to the sword by Nilsson, who scored either side of the interval and set up a third as Elfsborg consigned their hosts to a bottom-place finish.

The traffic was initially all one-way towards Elfsborg's goal. First, Frédéric Bulot rattled the crossbar with a glancing header and then a clean-through Igor De Camargo fired off-target. De Camargo squandered another excellent chance midway through the half, heading wide as a miscued clearance dropped invitingly his way.

On 31 minutes, the experienced No10 was bailed out by a debutant; 19-year-old Yannis Mbombo wrapped his foot around a loose ball on the edge of the area and curled into the top-right corner. On 41 minutes, though, Nilsson latched onto a defence-splitting pass from Viktor Claesson and slammed the ball into the bottom-right corner to ensure punch-drunk Elfsborg went in at the break on level terms.

Inspired after the restart, the visitors were in front within 30 seconds, Nilsson crashing in his second after a cleared cross fell at his feet. The forward then turned provider on 52 minutes, his right-wing cross met by a fine Mikkel Beckmann volley, which skipped off the turf and past Yohann Thuram-Ulien.

A flying Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard made an improvised save with his leg to deny Bulot as Standard snapped out of their dazed state. Substitute David Biton whipped a shot against the base of a post and had an effort tipped wide, but Elfsborg's No1 was not to be beaten again.