AB played today against FC Nordsjælland in the 2nd quarter-final of the Oddset Cup. The opportunity for further advancement was present despite a 0-3 draw in the first quarter-final. Even though the match was held in Farum, the physical setting was in order and with impressive support from the fan section, it was a good experience.
Both teams play fresh from the start and AB had two good chances within the first quarter. Emiliano Gomez tips the ball to Tim Freriks, who unfortunately gets into an offside position. It would have been really good if AB had come out ahead. AB’s goalkeeper Albert Gaub-Jakobsen once again had a good game and fended off several of FCN’s attempts. After 23 minutes, FCN gets a free kick, even though Erik Lindell was unaware of the referee’s ruling. The free kick ends up in the goal area, where Kaare Brøckner Barslund comes highest and heads the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
After 32 min. AB loses the ball in the middle of the field and FCN quickly comes forward. Unfortunately, Albert Gaub-Jakobsen arrives too late and gets an FCN player taken down and the referee awards a penalty. Daniel Jonathan Svensson shoots and if Albert Gaub-Jakobsen had stretched just a few cm more, he would have managed. FCN takes a 2-0 lead.
After 39 min. AB creates a huge chance after really good passes and fast play forward the field. FCN’s goalkeeper makes a fine save.
Before the break, FCN manages to get another chance, as Adrien Koudelka has to follow an FCN player almost all the way to the goal. Fortunately, Albert Gaub-Jacobsen is ready again and fends off the shot, so the result at the break remains 2-0 to FCN.
FCN had several chances, but it was AB who accelerated the game and with good combinations, they quickly came forward on the field. AB had deserved a goal in this period, but either a goalkeeper or a pass got in the way too much. In the dying minutes of the match, AB makes two consecutive changes. At the first, Erik Lindell came close to scoring, and in the 88th minute, Daniel A. Pedersen sends a precise cross into the box, where Tim Freriks rises up and sends a perfect header into the goal to reduce the score 1-2. Big cheers among AB’s fans and joy to be seen from all players on the pitch. A really good goal to end the autumn on.
Head coach David Roufpanah said after the game: “I have a special feeling after the game. Maybe I’m subjective and my heart is in AB, but I feel that we play a really good game and have so many chances that we can win the game. So it’s hard to be completely satisfied, but at the same time, it’s hard not to smile inwardly at the effort that the players show today. There are so many good sequences. So if we can take all that with us when the 2nd division starts up again, then we can have a really good second half of the season.”
Adrien Koudelka followed up: “It was the game we expected. They were in possession of the ball and there was a good fight from both teams. Especially in the 2nd half, we showed character, I think. We didn’t give up and fought until the last second. Luckily, we scored in the end. Now four weeks of vacation await. We have a week completely off, but then we get the training plans that we have to carry out, so we return to training in good condition. When we are back, there will be many intense tests waiting for us, so we have to be prepared.”
