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His colleague, goalkeeper Ali Keyta, is normally the given choice for Östersund, but after 23 straight Allsvenskan matches, Keyta was forced to stay home, quarantined, with a confirmed COVID-19.
With second goalkeeper Sixten Mohlin also having symptoms of illness, Allsvenskan rookie Andrew Mills had the opportunity without any backup on the bench.
The 27-year-old Englishman began his first 17 months in Östersund with rehabilitation from an injury, but has been completely healthy for a year and Sunday’s opportunity was a stroke of luck.
– I’ve waited so long and worked so hard. Finally, being able to play an Allsvenskan match was wonderful, even if three points were the most important, sums up Mills, who was immediately put to the test.
Sirius pushed for goals from kick-off, taking over the ball and the game for most of the match, but when they finally made their way through Östersund’s defense, at least compact and tough, the successful rookie got in the way. I walked and seemed to be just following higher level.
– I entered the game quickly and I like that because the more time passes before the first intervention, the more difficult it becomes, so I was happy that I acted early, it took me mentally to the game.
Andrew Mills says time and again that his colleague Ali Keyta is the best goalkeeper in the series and that he learned a lot from training with him.
Tributes to teacher Keita
– Ali is a class janitor, I am grateful to have learned so much from him. Once you get a chance, it depends on the test, says Mills and while handling the task.
The two goals he conceded were in part a very hard free-kick cannon from Elias Andersson, where the ball hit his own wall and changed direction before crashing on goal and Karl Larson’s reduction of 2-3 in the last minute. not much to say either.
When he replaced Henrik Bellman in the second half, he decided the match with his first goal in the Allsvenskan, a dream goal where the Östersund midfielder from the right wing screwed up the far center, letting go of everything for both Bellman and Andrew. Mills.
Bellman ran aimlessly over to coach Amir Azrafshan and gave him a jubilant teddy bear hug:
– There were so many personal feelings. Amir has come in and given me the opportunity. He let me play. I am incredibly grateful for that.
TT: And what goal of the game now when it finally came?
– Yes, you have waited so long, you have to do something extra. And I’ve done exactly this in training, over and over again over the years, so it feels so much fun to be able to do it in a game too, says Bellman.
Östersund goalkeeper Andrew Mills, on the other hand, did not dare risk anything, but ran after Bellman’s dream hit, in front of his own goal and instead threw his fist into the air:
– I was so happy. I didn’t know where to go. So I ran by myself and hugged everyone afterwards, he says.
It is not clear how Ali Keyta’s physical condition is and when he can come out of his quarantine, but one thing is for sure, Andrew Mills is ready and Henrik Bellman would like to see the Englishman in goal again:
– It is a good example of how united we are as a group. Andrew has worked one hundred percent every day despite the fact that as a third goalkeeper you know that the chances of playing are minimal. Now he was ready and he was sure he would make it. Will do it again.