Dembe on target as BK Häcken fall to Strasbourg in Europa Conference League

Ugandan forward John Paul Dembe was on the scoresheet as BK Häcken suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to French Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

The Swedish outfit saw their seven-game unbeaten run come to an end despite a spirited display that saw Dembe find the back of the net in the second half.

Strasbourg took the lead midway through the first period when Martial Godo delivered a precise cross for Julio Enciso, who calmly guided the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.

Dembe capitalised on a defensive lapse to score

Häcken pushed for an equaliser before the break, but the French side remained solid at the back to maintain their advantage at halftime. Shortly after the restart, Godo turned from provider to scorer, doubling Strasbourg’s lead just before the hour mark with a composed finish.

However, Häcken were given hope in the 62nd minute when Dembe capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot home past the goalkeeper, halving the deficit. Despite a late surge from the Swedish side, Strasbourg held firm to preserve their unbeaten record in the group phase.

The result leaves BK Häcken still searching for their first win of the campaign, having drawn two and lost one, while Strasbourg remain well on course for the knockout stages with seven points from three matches.