Compared to the last game, Erik Lindell was out of the squad and was replaced by O’Vonte Mullings at right-back. Young Pachanga Kristensen replaced Darren Sidoel and took his place in central defence next to Adrien Koudelka. Søren Ilsøe started in midfield and Mark Garly Pedersen two places on the bench. Likewise, Ahmed Hassan took his place on the bench and was replaced by Flamur Dzelili. Daniel A. Pedersen had moved forward in midfield, and Ágúst Hlynsson played 10th position behind Christian Wagner.
The starting line-up with substitutions and substitutions:
16 Albert Gaub-Jacobsen (goalkeeper)
4 Adrien Koudelka
5 Rasmus Brodersen
6 Daniel A. Pedersen
11 Flamur Dzelili (out) – 24 Mark Garly Pedersen (in)
15 Søren Ilsøe
17 Yushi Yamaya (out) – 37 Frederik Lindgaard (in)
19 Christian Wagner (out) – 9 Emil Mygind Jensen (in)
22 Ágúst Hlynsson (ud) – 40 Hörður Askham (ind)
35 Pachanga Kristensen
88 O’Vonte Mullings (out) – 28 Emiliano Gomez (in)
True to tradition, AB Forever named the player of the season this year as well. It was fully deserved Adrien Koudelka, who throughout the season has shown good and decisive play and good leadership qualities on the pitch.
AB came out well for the game and sat well on the game, but it was Aarhus Fremad who got the first shot opportunities. AB was high on the pitch and pushed Aarhus Fremad back. After 17 minutes, AB pressed with many players and Aarhus Fremad’s goalkeeper makes a pass, which Christian Wagner intercepts and plays diagonally back to Flamur Dzelili, who knocks the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead. After the goal, AB gets back on the game, combines well with quick passes. A quarter of an hour later, Yushi Yamaya passes the ball to Flamur Dzelili on the left wing. He takes a few moves towards the middle and in front of the penalty area he shoots a fantastic shot that dives over the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead.
Aarhus Fremad gets a corner kick, and Albert Gaub-Jacobsen parries and sends the ball into play again, where Aarhus Fremad finishes right next to the goal.
Shortly before the half-time whistle, Søren Ilsøe delivers a long, sharp pass into the box, where Yushi Yamaya comes sprinting into the box and cuts the ball into the goal just before Aarhus Fremad’s goalkeeper gets hold of the ball. 3-0 at half-time.
AB continues the good pace from the start of the 2nd half, but in the 52nd minute Flamur Dzelili commits a free kick on the right side close to the back line. In the situation, Flamur Dzelili is injured and has to be replaced. On the following free kick, Lucas Skjoldborg From is played completely free in the box in front of goal and converts the big chance in goal to reduce 1-3.
Then Aarhus Fremad gets on the game and gets AB to the bottom. It pays off and in the 61st minute, when Aarhus Fremad has a play on the left side and puts the ball over in the back room, where Marcus Kirchheiner completely uncovered can shoot the ball into the goal to reduce the score to 2-3.
The pressure on AB continues, but in the 70th minute, AB gets a good conversion, where Christian Wagner receives the ball in the middle of the field. He plays on to O’Vonte Mullings, who sends a pass into the box to Mark Garly Pedersen, who plays behind to Christian Wagner, who scores to make it 4-2.
Aarhus Fremad are pushing to get a result out of the match in their efforts for promotion. They are rewarded by their efforts with a conversion and a cross in front of goal to Anders Sølvsten Holvad, who completely uncovered can reduce to 3-4 in 75 minutes.
5 minutes into the referee’s overtime, Rasmus Brodersen closes and extinguishes the game after a sprint on the left wing from his own half of the field to the final score 5-3.
It was a magical evening and the 612 spectators saw a fantastic effort and fight by AB in the last home game at Gladsaxe Stadium this season.
After the game, head coach Joey Gudjonsson said: “There was a lot of excitement tonight. For me, it was the first home game and for all of us it was the last home game this season. So it was important that everyone enjoyed this evening. I am very happy with the joy that the team is showing and the spirit in which they play. We played really good football in between and scored 5 goals. There are things that we can do better and that’s the beauty of football. You will never play the perfect match. There are many situations that we can do better, and we need to defend ourselves better. I can’t be happier with the character that Daniel as captain leads the team in the match. There were several good performances from Aarhus Fremad, who really fought to win the game in order for them to continue to play for promotion.
I said earlier this week at the fan meeting and in the sponsor lounge today before the game that I wanted everyone to see that the players were playing for AB, that they were playing with their heart – and we really saw that today.”
Captain Daniel A. Pedersen followed up: “It was fantastic to be able to end the season at home with a win. We play an excellent 1st half. In the 2nd half, Aarhus Fremad puts more players forward and bets a bit more. This means that we are pushed a little too far back on the field. We fight and resist, but of course make some mistakes with their goals. I think we show great morale and give our fans a win here at home.
Now we have to finish the season here next Saturday and we are looking forward to that, but first we have to enjoy this victory. There was a really good atmosphere inside the dressing room. We have missed a win. A victory that really felt good. Especially after last week’s defeat in Esbjerg, that we show that we can get back on track and show how we can do it. When we have a game like this, like in Esbjerg, we have to go out to test the team’s character. I think we showed today that we have a lot of faith in things.”
The last match of the season will be played on Saturday 15 June 2024 at 14:00 at Middelfart Stadium.
