UEFA Europa League· Season 2026
Frank Adjei's 89th-minute equaliser earned Hammarby a 1-1 draw against ten-man Anderlecht in the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie at 3Arena, Stockholm.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Anderlecht could not have asked for a better start. Inside six minutes, Sikan stepped up to a free kick from 25 yards out and curled a right-footed shot over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Hammarby goalkeeper Warner Hahn with no chance (Flashscore).
Hammarby almost responded immediately — Victor Eriksson's free kick was saved by Colin Coosemans a minute later — but the hosts struggled to break down a compact Anderlecht defence. The discipline of both sides frayed early: Saliba (24') and Ludwig Augustinsson (27') were booked for Anderlecht, while Frederik Winther (35') and Eriksson (46') followed for Hammarby. The half-time score read 0-1.
Anderlecht made the first change of the second period, withdrawing Augustinsson for Moussa N'Diaye in the 55th minute. Further substitutions followed — Mihajlo Cvetkovic replaced K. Nga and Lukas Ambros replaced Marco Kana in the 64th minute — but the Belgian side continued to protect their narrow lead rather than extend it.
Hammarby introduced Oscar Johansson Schellhas for Nahir Besara in the 75th minute, sensing an opportunity. Three minutes later, Saliba's night unravelled: a second yellow card for a bad foul reduced the visitors to ten men with 12 minutes of normal time remaining (Sky Sports).
Anderlecht responded by sending on Zoumana Keita and Noah Kalonji, withdrawing Sikan and Jayden Onia-Seke (82'), but the damage was done. Hammarby pushed forward relentlessly.
Victor Lind made way for Frank Adjei in the 86th minute. Within three minutes, the substitute made the decisive intervention: P. Abraham provided the pass and Adjei fired a right-footed shot into the high centre of the goal (Sky Sports). A VAR review confirmed the goal, and the 23,572 in attendance erupted (BBC Sport).
The turning point
Saliba's 78th-minute dismissal flipped the match. Anderlecht had controlled proceedings for 72 minutes after Sikan's early free kick, sitting deep and protecting their lead. The red card — the Canadian international's second caution for a foul — changed the dynamic entirely. Hammarby, who had mustered limited threat against a well-organised defence, suddenly found space and numerical superiority. Adjei's goal, three minutes after his introduction, was the natural consequence.
Key performers
Frank Adjei (Hammarby) — The substitute scored within three minutes of entering the pitch, latching onto Abraham's pass and finishing emphatically past Coosemans. A classic impact-sub performance.
Danylo Sikan (Anderlecht) — His sixth-minute free kick was a moment of genuine quality, bending and dipping over the wall from 25 yards. He also hit the post with an earlier effort in the opening minutes (video replay).
Markus Karlsson (Hammarby) — Created several chances in the second half as the hosts pushed for an equaliser, looking dangerous from midfield (Flashscore).
Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht) — The Canada international's night was a microcosm of his team's: disciplined and effective until the 78th minute, when a second yellow card left his side exposed and ultimately cost them the win.
By the numbers — interpreted
Hammarby's 56% possession and 12 shots (6 on target) to Anderlecht's 6 (4 on target) tell the story of a game in two phases. The raw numbers flatter the home side's overall dominance because Anderlecht controlled the first 70 minutes after Sikan's early goal. The shot count is heavily weighted toward the final 15 minutes, when Hammarby exploited their man advantage and pressed the Anderlecht goal. The 4 shots on target for Anderlecht came largely from the first half, reflecting their clinical early approach before the numerical disadvantage forced them back.
What it means
The tie is perfectly poised at 1-1 ahead of the second leg at Lotto Park in Brussels on 30 July. Anderlecht will have home advantage but will be without Saliba, who is suspended after his red card. Hammarby travel with significant momentum after their late equaliser and will fancy their chances of scoring away from home.
Verdict
A game of two distinct phases. Anderlecht's early free-kick goal and controlled display suggested a comfortable path to the second leg, but Saliba's indiscipline and Hammarby's late pressure leave the tie finely balanced. The Belgian side will feel they let a winning position slip. The Swedish side will feel the momentum is theirs.
Match Events
Key match events between Hammarby FF and Anderlecht — 2 goals and 6 cards recorded during the match.
assist: P. Abraham· IFK Goteborg
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 25 Jul 2026