AB Gladsaxe played yesterday, Friday 21 March 2025, against Ishøj IF at Gladsaxe Stadium in the presence of 708 spectators. The game ended 3-0 on goals by Noah Engell Christensen, O’Vonte Mullings and Noah Engell Christensen (penalties).
Compared to the last game in Middelfart, there were two places changed. Steven Simpson took care of the right-back position and Mikkel Nielsen took a place on the bench. Casper Grening took over the left wing and Yushi Yamaya started out.
So the starting eleven looked like this: On goal was Marcus Bobjerg and in central defense were Noah Ibsen and Pachanga Kristensen. On the right side of the defense was Steven Simpson and on the left side Rasmus Brodersen. In central midfield were Ægir Jarl Jonasson and Agust Hlynsson and on the wingers O’Vonte Mullings and Casper Grening. At the top played Tobias Hageltorn and Noah Engell Christensen, who was also captain.
After 12 minutes in the 2nd half, AB changed formation. Mikkel Brund came into a three-man defense. Yushi Yamaya came in on the left wing, Søren Ilsøe came in on the defensive midfield and Steven Simpson was moved higher up the right wing. Out went Casper Grening, Tobias Hageltorn and Rasmus Brodersen.
In the 76th minute, Frederik Lindegaard replaced the energetic and well-playing O’Vonte Mullings. Frederik Lindgaard was put at the very front. Five minutes before time, Mikkel Nielsen replaced a very well-played Steven Simpson.
After the great 3-1 win last Saturday away against Middelfart, it was exciting before today’s game if AB could again play a good game and get the important 3 points. It succeeded, and it was a great victory.
It did not seem that the pressure to get in the top six and thus in the promotion playoff, affected AB’s game. Already a few minutes into the game, O’Vonte Mullings showed his speed and came forward on the pitch. Casper Grening, Noah Engell Christensen, O’Vonte Mullings and Agust Hlynsson were always close to Ishøj’s players and pushed them far back. Ishøj stood low and lurked for transitions. They got them, but it took about a quarter of an hour before Ishøj had a finish where the ball ended up far over the goal.
A few minutes later, however, they had come close, but an otherwise good cross was boxed away by AB’s goalkeeper Marcus Bobjerg.
Then it went fast, because AB would reach 3 goals in 6 minutes – they succeeded!
Noah Engell Christensen got the last foot on the ball and scored to make it 1-0 after 38 minutes AB quickly got the ball back and after several finishes were parried, O’Vonte Mullings just 3 minutes after scoring took matters into his own hands and sent a strong shot off to lead 2-0. Again, only 3 minutes later, AB was dangerous in the box, and one of Ishøj’s players parried a shot with his hand. The referee awarded a penalty, which Noah Engel Christensen ice-cold sneaked in to make it 3-0 on the goalkeeper’s left side. Shortly before the break, Ishøj got a good opportunity to reduce the deficit, but a good shot in front of goal floated all the way past.
After the break, Ishøj changed formation and came further forward on the pitch and tried to put their play higher up in AB’s half of the field. As a consequence, AB also changed formation and played with a 3-back line and a more defensive starting point. AB had several finishes in the 2nd half, but none that resulted in more goals.
Ishøj had a couple of chances, where Marcus Bobjerg had to step into character, which he did despite the few times he had to go into action throughout the game with saves.
With just under a quarter of an hour left of the game, Ishøj got a free kick on the left side just outside the box. As you know, in the two teams’ last match, Ishøj managed to kick the ball around the wall and into the goal. It couldn’t be closer in today’s game, because the shot went around the wall and ended up on the post.
Head coach Joey Gudjonsson emphasized that the team is getting stronger and that everyone plays for each other:
“It’s always great to win, and we got off to a really good start. We were really aggressive and we didn’t want to give them time with the ball. We pressed them high and won the balls high on the pitch. We created many chances and could have scored more goals already at the start of the game. The players’ mentality is getting stronger and stronger, and they didn’t let themselves be put off by the fact that there were no goals. They drove on and created more chances and then the goals came too.
In the 2nd half we still played well and created more chances, but we didn’t get the fourth goal. Ishøj changed their style of play and put more players in front. They took a lot of chances, and we had a lot of counter-attacks and had opportunities to score more goals.
I also think I want to give the players credit for the play in the 2nd half, because the pitch was more and more run up and it was difficult to control the ball. Then it is difficult to show class and quality on such a pitch. The attitude of the players was incredible and it was a good win.
We have talked about everyone giving everything they can. If they can’t play 90 minutes, but only 60, then they have to give everything they have, and then the next person who comes on the field will follow up and do the same with the same energy and approach to the game. Whether it’s the starting line-up or the players starting on the bench, they all play for the team, and I’m really happy about that,” concludes Joey Gudjonsson.
Captain and 2-goal scorer Noah Engell Christensen said after the game that he never felt that there was any doubt about who would win the match:
“It’s a great feeling to win the match. We start really well, and in the 1st half we drive them around the pitch. We have more energy than Ishøj and we create a lot of chances during the first 30 minutes.
Then we get a goal and then we make two more. In the 2nd half, we just drove it home, and there was never any doubt that we should get all three points. It will be a slightly different half, because they change formation and get on the ball a little more, but I don’t think they really become dangerous. We also change formations, so we can match them man to man and we have a good handle on them. They get a free kick and we know he’s good at free kicks, but luckily it hits the post. We win 3-0 and it was great”, concludes Noah Engell Christensen.
The next match will be played on Friday 28 March 2025 against FC Helsingør at 19:00 at Helsingør “Ny Stadion”, Gammel Hellebækvej 63 in Helsingør.
