AB Gladsaxe played the first match of Easter week in Skive today. It was a battle for important points in the effort to finish the regular season in the Top-6.
In relation to the match against Aarhus Fremad, Mark Garly Pedersen replaced the quarantined Rasmus Brodersen. Emiliano Gomez took his place on the bench and was replaced by Ahmed Hassan in the starting line-up.
The game ended 1-1 after Tim Freriks in the 21st minute sent the ball into the goal on a penalty kick and the equalizer by Daniel Skovgaard Mortensen after a lump play in the goal area came after 37 minutes.
Starting line-up with substitutions and substitutions:
16 Albert Gaub-Jacobsen (goalkeeper)
3 Erik Lindell
4 Adrien Koudelka
6 Daniel A. Pedersen
8 Darren Sidoel
10 Tim Freriks
15 Søren Ilsøe goes out – Mikkel Brund comes in
17 Yushi Yamaya Walks Out – O’Vonte Mullings Walks In
22 Ágúst Hlynsson
24 Mark Garly Pedersen
97 Ahmed Hassan Goes Out – Christian Wagner Comes In
Head coach David Roufpanah said after the game: “Huge disappointment. The match turned out the way we had imagined. I really think the players are trying everything they can. We do the best we can, but there are also some mistakes made on the difficult course. We knew that could happen. It’s a big disappointment. There are many situations that we could have done better, but lack the final details. It’s disappointing to lose two points, but it’s a very difficult away game. Skive is a team that is really good at what they do. They play in a way that they know works for them. They make a goal on a standard situation. We expected them to be dangerous in those situations, and therefore it’s disappointing that they score and we couldn’t get the three points.”
It was never a beautiful football match. The match was characterized by physical play and was more a fight for the ball than polished football play. The pitch did not invite that either. AB starts with good energy and sets up the game in Skive’s half of the field. Ahmed Hassan plays on the wing and Tim Freriks on top. Skive came more into the game, and the match developed into an even affair. There weren’t any big chances, but both teams did set up a bit of play. After 20 min. AB is awarded a penalty kick due to hand on the ball. Tim Freriks scored safely.
AB produces a lot of attacks, and it also comes to several good finishes. Skive gets the full benefit of the lump play that occurs in AB’s goal area after corner kicks, and Daniel Skovgaard Mortensen can put the last foot on the ball to equalize 1-1 after 36 minutes.
Skive has a couple of big chances, which are parried by AB’s defense, where especially Adrien Koudelka has shown good defensive play. In addition, there are not any great scoring chances in the rest of the 1st half for any of the teams.
At the start of the 2nd half, Skive is close to surprising AB already in the 1st minute, but Albert Gaub-Jakobsen is ready with a save. Søren Ilsøe is close to a goal, as he comes running into the box and finishes, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Ahmed Hassan showed good attempts with shots along the ground and O’Vonte Mullings made a good jump and put a drive in the game and also showed shooting ability. The rest of the 2nd half was not an insane performance, and the 343 spectators watched a game that probably ended in a score. Unfortunately, Søren Ilsøe had to leave the field after a collision in the peloton. That gave debut to Mikkel Brund in defence.
Overall, it was an even game, where neither team could take the 3 points. AB’s position as no. 6 in the series is still valid, as the other results of the series improved, so AB still has 5 points down to 7th place.
A disappointed captain Daniel A. Pedersen said: “Not a very pretty football match, but it was a pitch where it was almost impossible to play passing games on. It is frustrating that they are given such a ragtag measure that we should reject. It will just be a battle for the ball close to the goal, and then it will be a matter of chance. It’s a very messy game. We would have liked to have had 3 points, but only get one.”
The next match will be played on Maundy Thursday, March 28 at 15:00 at Gladsaxe Stadium, where Nykøbing FC will visit.
Tickets for the match can be purchased here.
Easter week ends with an away game in Sundby Idrætspark against Fremad Amager on Easter Sunday 2, Monday 1 April at 19:00.
