Esbjerg's dream season in Europe reached new levels after they beat Swedish outfit Elfsborg 2-1 away last night.
Veteran midfielder Hans Henrik Andreasen scored two goals as the west-coast Jutlanders held on for an inspired win that sees them sit comfortably in second place in Group C with six points.
“We worked really hard and played some decent football,” Esbjerg coach Niels Frederiksen told the 6’eren TV channel after the match. “It was lovely to see. When you work as hard as we did today, then you are rewarded with lots of points and victories.”
On the brink of qualifying
The win means that Esbjerg could qualify for the knockout stages if they manage to beat Elfsborg once again – this time at home – in two weeks time, and Belgian club Standard Liege drop points against the group leaders, Red Bull Salzburg.
Such an eventuality would leave Esbjerg as the only Danish team left in European competition, assuming that FC Copenhagen does not come up with a miracle in the Champions League after losing in Turkey on Wednesday night.
Esbjerg have had an spectacular run in the Europa League this season – the first in the club's history – beating French club St Etienne, Standard Liege and now Elfsborg thus far in the competition.
In group C's other fixture, Salzburg beat Standard Liege 2-1 in Austria to lead the group with nine points. Both Standard Liege and Elfsborg only have one.
