AB Gladsaxe got off to a great start to the spring season on Saturday with a 3–0 win over HIK in a match that was also Fannar Berg Gunnólfsson’s first game as head coach. 522 spectators turned up for the match, and they were treated to a great experience.

The match was played on pitch 2 at Brøndby Stadium. It was the same pitch where AB beat Brøndby IF’s Superliga reserves a week ago. A pitch that, besides delivering wins, is also in perfect condition.

AB’s goals were scored by Jonathan Mathys for 1–0 after 41 minutes. That was also the half-time score.

Tobias Lykkebak and Travian Sousa made their debuts in the green shirt. And it wasn’t just a strong debut — the debutants also combined well, which led to a goal.

It became 2–0 after 61 minutes through O’Vonte Mullings, and Tobias Lykkebak made it 3–0 after 83 minutes.

The coaching staff had made a few changes to AB’s starting XI compared with the last friendly against Brøndby IF. Tobias Damtoft started at left-back, and excitingly, Casper Grening started up front.

AB’s Starting 11

In goal: Adam Ingi Benediktsson; right-back: Frederik Lindgaard; centre-backs: Marc Dal Hende and Adrien Koudelka; left-back: Tobias Damtoft; midfield: Alfred Horup and Søren Ilsøe. On the left wing: Jonathan Mathys, and on the right wing: O’Vonte Mullings. Up front: Noah Engell and Casper Grening.

1st Half

The match had barely kicked off before AB played the ball from midfield out wide to O’Vonte Mullings, who immediately cut inside towards the box and got a shot away, but the effort went just over. In the next move, Tobias Damtoft tried to curl the ball into the far corner, but again the attempt went over. After 21 minutes, Noah Engell got free out wide and cut inside, but was brought down — correctly shown a yellow card and a free kick was awarded. The free kick was in a good position, but Adrian Koudelka couldn’t get high enough to head the ball.

O’Vonte Mullings played the ball back to the middle in front of the box, where Søren Ilsøe tried his luck with a good shot, but the ball went wide. Over the next ten minutes, AB had the upper hand and created several chances. Adrien Koudelka again got up really well, but this time too he could only head the ball just over. Frederik Lindgaard was again very active and delivered several good crosses into the box. HIK’s goalkeeper Oliver Børner Thorup was well positioned and dealt with several AB attempts.

Noah Engell received a sharp pass in the middle of the pitch and sprinted towards goal, one-on-one with Oliver Børner Thorup, but Noah Engell finished straight at him.

After 34 minutes, Jonathan Mathys took a shot from just outside the box on the left side — it was a real danger down by the post, but the shot was saved.

After 39 minutes, HIK had their first chance, when a cross into the box ended up at the far post, but it was blocked away.

Then came the breakthrough — and it was a fantastic goal. After 41 minutes, Jonathan Mathys was in the box and volleyed the ball into the net for 1–0 after Casper Grening had flicked it into his path. HIK had the half’s last chance after Marc Dal Hende put the ball out for a corner following a good cross. From the corner, Adam Ingi Benediktsson rose high and caught the ball.

2nd Half

From the start of the second half, HIK put pressure on and pushed further up the pitch. After 55 minutes came the first substitutions, with Marco Vesterholm taking over in midfield from Alfred Horup. Tobias Lykkebak came on up front, replacing Casper Grening.

AB gradually got a grip on the match again, moved the ball well, and pressed HIK in their build-up. There were battles in midfield, and after a spell with a lot of small combinations around the box, O’Vonte Mullings took matters into his own hands and, in familiar fashion, ran into the penalty area and finished with a fine goal to put AB 2–0 up after 61 minutes.

Tobias Hageltorn came on after 71 minutes, taking over the left wing from Jonathan Mathys. At the same time, Travian Sousa took over at left-back from Tobias Damtoft.

After taking the 2–0 lead, AB dropped a little deeper and allowed HIK more of the play. AB controlled the match effectively, and HIK got nothing from their efforts.

After 81 minutes, it became 3–0 following a well-timed move, where Travian Sousa flicked the ball into the box and Tobias Lykkebak got there to head it over HIK goalkeeper Oliver Børner Thorup. Shortly before the final whistle, Mikkel Brund came on and replaced Frederik Lindgaard at right-back. HIK tried until the last whistle, but couldn’t pull one back, so the final score in the spring opener was 3–0.

Words From the Team

Captain Marc Dal Hende felt it was a great start: ”It’s always difficult with the first match when you’ve had a long pre-season. I don’t think there’s any team that isn’t a bit unsure about where they stand. What I was happiest to see was the structure we had in the team. We didn’t give away any chances. There are a few long shots from distance, but otherwise HIK didn’t have much.

On the other hand, I think we have plenty of chances to close the game earlier. There were good signs and flow in the team. A great start against a good HIK side. In the first half we struggled to break through them. But there were signs of breakthroughs, and we know that with the way we play — energetic and with a lot of power in our press — at some point we’ll run them over. I felt we slowly suffocated them.

We know we have a good team and I think we looked strong. We have a strong squad and the young players are right in it too — for example Alfred, one of our own talents, starts. The young lads did well, and the new players came on and did well too. Lykkebak even scored a goal and Travian Sousa got a good assist. We just have to stay humble and keep our foot on the gas,” Marc Dal Hende concludes.
Marc Dal Hende – Captain
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Head Coach Fannar Berg Gunnólfsson was very proud: “It was a really good start and a fantastic performance. HIK were in it for the first 30 minutes, and after that we had full control of the match. We played a brilliant game and I’m extremely proud of the effort the lads put in. We really deserved the 3 points today.
There were many good actions and I think at times we played really well. It was very difficult for HIK to get out of their third of the pitch, so we could just attack again and again — and we did. Defensively we were very solid and throughout the match we kept HIK away from the really big chances.”
Fannar Berg Gunnólfsson – Head Coach
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The next match will be played on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM against Thisted FC at Sparekassen Thy Arena.