Friday, 25 February 2022

Vejle BK 3-2 AGF Aarhus ( att : 7,121 ) – Denmark 2021/22 Superliga

February 25, 2022

With the resumption of the second week of the Danish Superliga after its winter break, much of the interest was the signing of ex-Arsenal and West Ham England international Jack Wilshere, who had signed for AGF and was expected to make a brief debut from the bench to-night. Wilshere was presumed to be the first English international to play in the Danish league after being capped by England.

Tonight’s match was streamed live on Onefootball and Bet365.com, with Vejle 3-1 outsiders, AGF 17/20 favourites, with the draw 11/4. It was a match-up between the bottom placed side in the Superliga versus the side in 7th place, with AGF pushing for a place in the top 6 play-offs.

Given the cosmopolitan nature of the Superliga, Velje only had one Danish player in their starting line-up, whereas AGF had 4 Danish qualified players in their XI. From the players who represented their sides in the last round of fixtures before Christmas, Velje had lost midfielder Hallur Hansson who had returned to Iceland to join KR Reykjavik, as well as keeper Grytebust, who had signed for FC Kopenhagen, but ex Derby County and Dinamo Bucharest centre-back Raul Albentosa and AIK Stockholm midfielder Ebenzeer Ofori had signed to strengthen their squad in their bid to avoid relegation.

A large number of AGF fans had made the short 70km journey to Vejle, and soon had plenty to cheer about when a swift counter attack saw them take the lead in the 3rd minute, with Icelander’s Thortstenisson’s ( 17 caps) cross being met Sierra Leone international Bundu for a close range header to give AGF the lead. Sierra Leone international Bundu is on loan from Ajax and initially made his name at Hereford and the Craig Bellamy Institute.

Vejle were quickly back on level terms though, with Spanish centre-back Albentosa powering home a header from Babayan’s corner in the 9th minute. However, in a pulsating opening period, AGF quickly re-established their lead, when a free-kick from the left-hand side was flicked on by a defender for Poulsen to bury at the back-post to make it 1-2 after 16 minutes.

Vejle fought back but Ponce’s header went wide from a good position and the intensity of the match was indicated by a number of strong tackles from both sides, and a Vejle free-kick sailed narrowly over the bar. However, the home side were back on level terms 4 minutes before the break, when after a scramble in the AGF 6 yard box, Mucolloi poked the ball over the line for the equaliser.

AGF thought they had regained the lead on the stroke of half-time, but Mortenson’s effort was chalked off as Bundu, who had been the most influential player in the first half, had been off-side earlier in the move.

After just over a minute of play, the second half was delayed due to a floodlight failure, but fortunately, play was able to resume after a stoppage of 12 minutes.

AGF’s Thortstenisson then delivered a corner than sailed across the 6 yard box with no contact, and Bundu regularly had the beating of his marker but without any end product. The packed crowd continued to generate a great atmosphere and in a pulsating game played in a good spirit, AGF looked the most likely side to grab a winner but the referee ignored a penalty appeal from Bundu after falling to the ground.

Wilshere was eventually introduced by AGF in the 89th minute but despite a couple of nice touches, it was Vejle who pressed for the winning goal, which arrived in the 91st minute when Drammeh was on hand to finish an assist from Albentosa’s header to give Velje the three points.

Vejle BK : Brunst – Da Silva, Albentosa, Kolinger, Grundelund ( Hollsberg ) – Babyayon ( Opoku ), Oferi, ( Hetemi ) Drammeh – Mucolli ( Emmanouildilis ), Ponce ( Djordjevic ), Sousa.

AGF Aarhuis : Hansen, Kahl ( Munskgaard ), Hausner, Bisseck, D’Alberto – Anderson ( Wilshere ), Poulson, Grondaek ( Brandhof ) – Thortstenisson  ( Links ), Mortenson, Bundu ( Kurminowski )

Highlights : https://superliga.dk/kampe/2021-2022/vejle-boldklub-agf-25-02-2022













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