Ghana international Emmanuel Lomotey received a red card just 10 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute on his Europa League group stage debut for new club Malmö FF Thursday night.
The Swedish champions lost 1-0 to Union Berlin in the Group D match-day 4 away fixture in the German capital.
Lomotey started on the bench and was introduced for Swedish midfielder Oscar Lewicki in the 81st minute.
With Malmö holding their hosts to a 0-0 draw in the 87th minute, the 24-year-old first got a caution for a foul on fellow substitute Kevin Behrens that resulted in a penalty for Union.
Robin Knoche went on to convert the penalty.
Lomotey was then involved in an overly physical challenge on Sheraldo Becker on the left wing in the 90th minute.
North Macedonian referee Aleksandar Stavrev initially issued a yellow card for the bad foul which would have sent him out of the game anyway but a VAR review saw the caution upgraded to a straight red as he was ruled as the last man in the build-up.
The expulsion and Lomotey’s contribution after coming on worsened the plight of Malmö who were losing their fourth straight game in Group D. They are bottom of the standings with zero points.
This is Lomotey’s second straight red card since arriving in Europe from Dreams FC.
His first came on February 1, 2020 while playing for Extremadura against CD Lugo in the 2019/20 LaLiga2 season.
Tekpetey shines with an assist
Winger Bernard Tekpetey could not get on the scoresheet for triumphant Ludogorets.
However, the 25-year-old was the provider of one of the goals in the Bulgarian champions’ 2-0 win over HJK Helsinki.
Tekpetey set up Rich Marais for the second goal in the 64th minute with the win taking Ludogorets to second in Group C with seven points, three adrift leaders Real Betis.
Meanwhile, compatriot and striker Abdul Malik Abubakari played full throttle for the defeated Finish giants.
In Azerbaijan, forward Kwabena Owusu played 85 minutes for Qarabag FK in a 0-0 draw at home against Freek side Olympiacos.
