Sport

Football: Mixed emotions on tough European night for Danish contenders

Both FC Copenhagen and FC Midtjylland played away and needed victories in order to secure promotion to the Europa Conference League, in the Europa League.

Both teams had lost their first legs 1 – 2 on home turf in Copenhagen and Herning.

FC Copenhagen faced German Heidenheim and came out very strong and secured 1 – 0 lead before the break by a sublime header from young Amin Chiakha.

Early in the second half FC Copenhagen doubled their lead, when Kevin Diks converted a penalty to 2 – 0.

But the game was not over and FC Heidenheim finished strong and created several chances in the last 30 minutes of the ordinary game, and Copenhagen didn’t close the game with their chances.

But it was a set piece that caused trouble for Copenhagen again, as substitute Leo Scienza curled a freekick under the bar, leaving the keeper little chance.

With the score 1 – 2, the game was now all even and went to two 15 minutes extra time, and with 5 minutes to go of the extra time FC Copenhagen looked like they squandered a counterattack. However a blunder from the German defence set Huesca from Copenhagen clean through with the keeper, and he managed to score with a finish close to the keeper. 

3 – 1 on the night, and 4 – 3 overall puts FC Copenhagen through to the next round.

Head Coach Jakob Neestrup had changed 8 players to the starting line-up since their game on monday, he will be pleased with the result, and the fact that he managed to rest some important players, despite playing 120 minutes of football.

On Sunday Copenhagen will face FC Midtjylland at home in Parken.

Tough game for Midtjylland

Midtjylland was facing tough competition as they faced Real Sociedad in Spain.

The team from Herning was off to a tough start, as their captain Mads Bech lost the ball and he will be disappointed with himself, as he could see the Spanish side secure a perfect start and score 1 – 0 within five minutes.

1 – 0, became 2 – 0 at the 18. Minute and a surprised comeback looked far away.

However, the Danish side turned things around and scored to both 1 – 2, and 2 – 2 in the first half, before Sociedad scored to 3 – 2 before the break.

In the second half Sociedad should have had a red card, and only one minute later Midtjylland was shown a record.

With only 10 men, and needing two goals to force the match to extra time, things looked hard for Midtjyllland.

And it proved as tough as expected and Real Sociedad scored to 4 – 2 before substitute Orri Oskarson, former FC Copenhagen closed the game with his header to the final 5 – 2, and 7 – 3 overall.

With tonight’s results FC Copenhagen proceeds in the Conference League and FC Midtjylland is eliminated from the Europa League.

Whether the results, the travelling, the extra time or the ability to change many players in the starting lineup is important when these teams face each other in Parken on Sunday remains to be seen. However, it’s certain to say that the game could prove to be a very decisive game for both teams, as they are leading the Superliga Table neck to neck with both 36 points for 18 games.

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