Earlier today, AB Gladsaxe played the decisive match against Middelfart for a position in the TOP-6. AB could decide it themselves, but it would require a win, because both Fremad Amager and Skive also had the courage to finish in the TOP-6. The game ended with a defeat for AB of 1-3, but thanks to Skive’s 0-2 defeat against Esbjerg and Fremad Amager’s draw 3-3, AB managed the job. It was a lovely spring day and 768 spectators had turned up at Gladsaxe Stadium for the exciting end of the regular season in the 2nd division. There were 6 changes in the starting line-up compared to the match against Fremad Amager. Tim Freriks sat out with quarantine, Hørdur Askham and Mark Garly Pedersen took a seat on the bench. O’Vonte Mullings and Flamur Dzelili started inside and Darren Sidoel was back after serving quarantine.
The following were selected for the starting line-up:
16 Albert Gaub-Jacobsen (goalkeeper)
3 Erik Lindell
4 Adrien Koudelka
5 Rasmus Brodersen
6 Daniel A. Pedersen
8 Darren Sidoel
11 Flamur Dzelili
15 Søren Ilsøe
17 Yushi Yamaya
22 Ágúst Hlynsson
88 O’Vonte Mullings
AB started with good energy, but it didn’t take more than 10 minutes, then Peter Dahl Kristensen scored for Middelfart. AB moved the game further forward on the field, and until 5 minutes before the break, there was balance in the game despite Middelfart’s lead. Middelfart stood low on the pitch and waited for the opportunity for a counter. It is a style of play that Middelfart practices very well. There were most chances for AB, but none of them went into the goal. On the other hand, Albert Gaub-Jakobsen again had a good day, where he managed several of Middelfart’s finishes. Darren Sidoel also had to step in with a good clearance. 42nd minute played and then the ball is back in AB’s goal after a good long shot by Lasse Thomsen. Then you could expect some downtime, but it only took just under 2 minutes, then the ball was again in AB’s goal for Middelfart lead 3-0 on a goal by Jonas Villemoes.
Not easy to come out to the 2nd half behind with 3 goals, but AB clawed on. There were several good finishes, and several shots snuck just over the goal. Middelfart did not hold back despite the 3 goal lead, and there were great opportunities for finishes for Middelfart. Adrien Koudelka took a very long sprint and ran up a Middelfart player, who was alone through, and tackled the ball from him in the goal area. Mark Garly Pedersen and Christian Wagner came on the field in the 66th minute. Christian Wagner had a good header, but the ball ended up past the goal. He didn’t give up and finally after 84 minutes of playing time the goal came. Christian Wagner knocks the ball into the goal and reduces the score to 1-3.
Head coach David Roufpanah said after the game: “We start the game with incredible energy and we create good chances. The feeling is that we will play a good game today. Later it is a shame that we fall behind 1-0. Then they get two goals in the last 4 – 5 minutes of the 1st half. Of course, we have to do that much better than we do. The 2nd half is a huge chase to score a goal. We have control of the results in the other games, so we know that we need to score a goal. We make some substitutions to get some more offensive play. The players who come on the field do well. At the end of the game, we want to protect the result and change the structure and become more defensive. Seen over the whole match, we are doing well to get into the TOP-6, but of course we don’t want to lose the game. Of course, it may sound strange when you lose the game, but I don’t feel that we deserved not to win in six games. We play well and we try everything we can. I think the players deserve the good feeling of winning a game. Now we are in the TOP-6, we can start building and see how we can get better and better and do our best to prepare for the future.”
Captain Daniel A. Petersen said: “A strange feeling. Of course, I’m disappointed with our own game. We start well, and then it’s typically us that we give away some goals. We are told in the 2nd half that we need a goal and then we get a class kick from Christian Wagner and save the place. After all, that’s the most important thing. It was nerve-wracking to stand there on the pitch after our game and wait for the results from the other games. It’s a very strange feeling, are disappointed in ourselves, but of course glad we keep the place. Now we have 10 games that we can use to improve our skills without thinking about consequences, and that we can use to look ahead to next season.” At the end of the game, Askham Hørdur came into the defense, Julius Lind in midfield and both teams retired and defended the result. Then it was just a matter of waiting for the results from the other games, and fortunately they fell out in AB’s favor.
AB maintains its position in the TOP-6 despite the defeat.
The promotion playoff now has the following teams:
59 points Esbjerg
44 points FC Roskilde
41 points Aarhus Fremad
41 points Middelfart
33 points Nykøbing
24 points AB Gladsaxe
The round starts already this coming weekend and more information will follow when match times are determined.
