In the presence of 1,310 spectators, AB Gladsaxe played today against Aarhus Fremad at Riisvangen Stadium. Before the game, Aarhus Fremad was at the top with good chances of promotion to the 1st division. Aarhus Fremad won 1-0 on a goal by Lucas Skjoldborg From already after 8 minutes. It was AB’s first defeat in the promotion playoffs. In relation to the match against Middelfart, Tim Freriks started at the top, Christian Wagner took a place on the bench next to O’Vonte Mullings, who was replaced by Flamur Dzelili. Mark Garly Pedersen started inside and Søren Ilsøe took a place on the bench. Ahmed Hassan and Tim Freriks played up top, and Ágúst Hlynsson and Flamur Dzelili played on the wings.
Aarhus Fremad got off to a strong start and it was clear that they were as expected very keen to win the game and thus keep the promotion alive. Already after 2 minutes, they got a great chance, but AB’s very stable defense, blocked the shot. The subsequent corner kick did not pay off. Aarhus Fremad had pushed AB all the way to the bottom, and thanks to the good defense, AB Aarhus Fremad kept the stick until the 8th minute, when Lucas Skjoldborg From played the ball behind himself, turned around and shot. Unfortunately, Albert Gaub-Jacobsen did not get hold of the shot and the ball went into the goal.
After 20 minutes, AB comes further forward on the pitch, and has some good crosses, but the finishes were not really dangerous. Aarhus Fremad is still dangerous on transitions and crosses in the box, especially from the right side.
AB had not been able to get into position after a free kick to Aarhus Fremad, which in turn started the game quickly. That led to a really good finish, which AB’s defense saved on the line. After 39 min. Tim Freriks has the chance to score after quick play and a precise cross, but the goalkeeper saves. In the next attack, Tim Freriks plays to Erik Lindell, who was looking towards the middle, and Erik plays behind to Darren Sidoel, who sends a good shot away, but the goalkeeper saves again. In the 2nd half, AB came much better. However, it was still Aarhus Fremad who had the biggest chances. There were finishes over the goal, blocked in the defense or Albert Gaub-Jacobsen saved. AB’s chances arose partly by shots from distance or by crosses with a subsequent finish by Tim Freriks.
Tim Freriks intercepts a bad pass from Aarhus Fremad and sprints towards goal. At the goal area, he plays Ahmed Hassan, but Aarhus Fremad’s goalkeeper had another good save. At the other end of the pitch, Albert Gaub-Jacobsen showed good goalkeeping and pulled out a great save and managed a shot from a completely free Aarhus Fremad player. It could have resulted in a bigger lead than 1-0, which was the result of the match.
Head coach David Roufpanah said after the game: “It was an intensive game for both teams. The first 25-30 minutes of the game we don’t get up to the level we need both offensively and defensively. We don’t set the game, we are stressed, our high pressure game does not work and it is not good enough at all. After that period we get a better grip on the game and I think we get better and are really good at the end of the 1st half. We adjust the team during the break and make some tactical changes. In the 2nd half, there are only 8-10 minutes where we are not at the level. We do a lot of good things in the 2nd half. We create 4-5 really good goal chances that hit the goal. We much clearer in our play and structure in the 2nd half. If we had come up 1-1, we would have clearly gone for 2-1. Aarhus Fremad is a good team, but when we play well, we are dangerous for all teams. So we are definitely not satisfied with coming to Aarhus and losing by one goal.”
Captain Daniel Sidoel added: “It’s always disappointing when you lose. The first 25 minutes were not well played by us. After that, we picked up the pace and it went better. We had some chances, and if we had scored on one of them, the game would have changed a lot. We didn’t score and they were able to keep their pressure on us with their 1-0 lead. It’s a good team and we have to respect that, but if we could convert our chances into a goal, it would change the game.”
Starting line-up with substitutions and substitutions:
16 Albert Gaub-Jacobsen (goalkeeper)
3 Erik Lindell
4 Adrien Koudelka
5 Rasmus Brodersen (out) Christian Wagner (in)
8 Darren Sidoel
10 Tim Freriks
11 Flamur Dzelili (out) O’Vonte Mullings (in)
22 Ágúst Hlynsson (out) Søren Ilsøe (ind)
24 Mark Garly Pedersen
34 Mikkel Brund
97 Ahmed Hassan (out) Emiliano Gomez (in)
The next match is on Friday 17 May 2024 at 19:00 at Gladsaxe Stadion against Nykøbing FC.
