'Marcelo' grabs an assist as AIK ease relegation woes in Sweden

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STARS ABROAD 'Marcelo' grabs an assist as AIK ease relegation woes in Sweden

Mark Kinyanjui 14:10 - 29.08.2023

The former Gor Mahia left back was on song as AIK grabbed crucial three points with a huge win over Varberg.

Harambee Stars left back Erick Marcelo Ouma registered an assist as AIK grabbed a rare win against Varberg in a Swedish topflight match played at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Monday night.

Ouma clocked 89 minutes, attempting two tackles, and winning four of his six attempted ground duels. He made five out of eight accurate long balls and registered two key passes.

It was a game AIK needed to win to stay afloat in their battle for survival in what has been a very underwhelming season for the 2018 league champions.

AIK opened the scoring in the 25th minute through Ioannis Pitas, who received a pass from Alexander Milošević who had held the ball up well, before setting up the forward who slotted the ball into the top right corner.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Ouma received the ball on the left flank, before making a well-executed early floated cross to right winger Rui Modesto, who volleyed into the back of the net.

Pitas would then seal the match in the second half when he converted a penalty he won in the 59th minute to give the hosts all three points, and their first win in four league matches.

AIK are now two points above the relegation places on 22 points after 21 games played and have all to play for in the last nine games of the season.

Ouma will want to carry that momentum to Harambee Stars as they face Qatar and then South Sudan in the forthcoming international friendly matches in September.