407 spectators were in the stands on Friday evening, where AB Gladsaxe played against Middelfart in the fourth match in the promotion play-off. In relation to the match against Nykøbing FC, Søren Ilsøe was back in the starting line-up after serving quarantine and Mark Garly took a seat on the bench. O’Vonte Mullings replaced Yushi Yamaya, and Christian Wagner replaced Tim Freriks at the top.
In the starting line-up were:
16 Albert Gaub-Jacobsen (goalkeeper)
3 Erik Lindell 4 Adrien Koudelka
34 Mikkel Brund
5 Rasmus Brodersen
8 Darren Sidoel (ud) – Daniel A. Pedersen (ind)
15 Søren Ilsøe (out) – Mark Garly Pedersen (in)
22 Ágúst Hlynsson
88 O’Vonte Mullings (out) Yushi Yamaya (in)
19 Christian Wagner (out) Tim Freriks (in)
97 Ahmed Hassan (out) Emiliano Gomez (in)
Before the game, AB was unbeaten in the promotion playoffs, but nothing is given when the opponent is Middelfart. AB has in previous games had unusually difficult to open up Middelfart’s defense, and Friday’s game was no exception. However, they managed to get the first point against Middelfart this season. It was a point for each team and with two fantastic goals. After 24 minutes, Ágúst Hlynsson scores after a nice assist from Rasmus Brodersen. The equalizer came 10 minutes into the 2nd half, where Middelfart’s Peter Dahl Kristensen finished with a nice shot all the way up in the corner.
Head coach David Roufpanah said: ” “We knew beforehand that we were going to face a physical team that is good on the ball and good at standards. We had worked on that in advance. We had prepared to be more on the ball in the build-up play and have patience. We do that very well in the first half, where we also stand really well in defence and are compact. We create good chances. In the second half we have the ball too little, but we still defend well. On their measure, we are too slow in the lateral shift. We play our best game in defence when it comes to defending our box. We were good at set pieces – both our own and theirs. We are just about to score on a long throw-in from O’Vonte, which Agust is about to score. We have good chances in the match against a good team that we have previously had difficulty against. We feel we could have won, but now we have at least got 1 point against Middelfart.”
The changed style of play with more possession, quick combinations and two players up front, was expressed in more play and opportunities to create chances. However, it did not provide opportunities that were large enough for them to be translated into more than one goal. AB started well with lots of speed, and there were a couple of shooting opportunities in the first 10 minutes. AB was on the game, but as both teams’ defenses were good on the field, there were no significant chances. When the clock had rounded 15 minutes, Middelfart came more into possession of the ball, and they actually had a great chance after 19 minutes, but AB’s central defense with Adrien Koudelka and Mikkel Brund was again close and firm. It was AB who first got the scoreboard going. After 23 min. AB again plays really fast with precise passes. Ágúst Hlynsson in the middle of the field passes to Rasmus Brodersen, who has followed on the edge and sends a nice and precise cross into the box. Here, Ágúst Hlynsson has continued his run and can pretty much run into the ball and put his head on for a nice score. After 36 min. AB has the chance for another lead, but the ball hits the crossbar.
AB goes to the break with a deserved lead. The 2nd half is characterized by the fact that it is now Middelfart who must chase a goal and create balance on the scoreboard. They have gained the upper hand in the game, and after 55 minutes, Peter Dahl Kristensen is allowed to finish without being pressured. He puts the ball all the way up in the corner without a chance for Albert Gaub-Jacobsen and the equalizer to 1-1 is a reality. Darren Sidoel, the captain of the match, may leave the field with an injury.
Daniel A. Pedersen comes back on the pitch after having been out with an injury and he is handed the captain’s armband. Middelfart intensifies the hunt for another goal, as the 3 points for them are important in relation to their position at the top. They get opportunities, but AB is still good in defence. In the referee’s overtime, AB Middelfart’s defense presses and it unfortunately ends with a shot over goal from Emiliano Gomez.
Vice-captain Darren Sidoel said of the game: “I think the first half went well because we played against a strong team. It is one of the more difficult teams to play against. It went OK, but of course there are moments where we could have done better with and without the ball. The 2nd half was more difficult and they had the ball significantly more. We defended well. 1-1 is okay. We had chances to win, but so did they.”
The next match is on Saturday 11 May at 14:00 against Aarhus Fremad at Riisvangen Stadion.
