AB Lose 2–1 Away to Kolding IF

AB played their sixth match of the Betinia LIGA season today, facing Kolding IF at Autocentralen Park, Kolding Stadion. In front of 1,115 spectators, including around 75 AB fans, Kolding IF claimed a 2–1 victory. Hans Høllsberg opened the scoring to make it 1–0, before Isak Fredrik Tånnander doubled Kolding's lead. Saliou Diop pulled one back for AB after 71 minutes.

Compared with the previous match against Hvidovre IF, the coaching staff made several changes to the starting lineup. Noah Engell and Marc Dal Hende were both left out of the squad, while Marco Vesterholm started in midfield alongside Søren Ilsøe. Mikkel Clement started on the bench. Jonathan Mathys replaced Noah Engell, while Casper Grening started up front alongside Milan Silva Rasmussen.

AB Starting XI

Adam Benediktsson started in goal, with Tobias Damtoft at right back and Travian Sousa at left back. Aidan Liu partnered Gabriel Noga in central defense, while captain Søren Ilsøe and Marco Vesterholm played in midfield. Jonathan Mathys started on the left wing, O’Vonte Mullings on the right, with Casper Grening and Milan Silva Rasmussen up front.

First Half

The match started evenly, with both teams trying to take control of the game. Both sides attempted to push the play higher up the pitch, but Kolding were more successful.

After four minutes, Kolding worked the ball down the left before eventually playing it behind AB's defense. The ball was cut back to Hans Høllsberg, who ran into the box, got a touch on the ball and fired it into the net to make it 1–0.

Kolding had clearly prepared well for the match and used their physicality to disrupt AB's quick combinations and transition play. AB continued trying to establish their game, but Kolding scored again from a long throw into the penalty area. The ball sailed across the box and ended up at the far post, where Isak Fredrik Tånnander was completely unmarked and headed home to make it 2–0 after 23 minutes.

AB struggled to find their rhythm and were pressured into making mistakes that are not normally seen from the team. Kolding made mistakes as well, and at times the match became a scrappy affair.

After half an hour, Tobias Damtoft sent a cross into the box, where Jonathan Mathys got his head to it, but unfortunately sent the ball just over the bar.

A few minutes later, Kolding came close to breaking through AB's defense. A cross into the box was blocked, but the ball continued rolling toward a completely unmarked attacker. Adam Ingi Benediktsson threw himself toward the ball and managed to gather it.

Second Half

It was an uphill battle for AB, who were two goals down and had created few chances in the first half. Things improved considerably after the break, with AB's pressing game working much better from the start.

Just one minute into the second half, Jonathan Mathys broke through and got a good shot away, but Kolding goalkeeper Adam Danko made the save.

After 58 minutes, Casper Grening was substituted, with Saliou Diop coming on up front and Milan Silva Rasmussen dropping behind him.

After 68 minutes, Jonathan Mathys was replaced by Tobias Hageltorn. At the same time, William Warrer came on to make his first Betinia LIGA appearance after making his debut in the Betano Cup. Tobias Damtoft went to the bench.

AB won several corners and began to control more of the play, and it wasn't long before they pulled a goal back. A precise pass from Aidan Liu found Milan Silva Rasmussen, who played the ball on to Saliou Diop. Diop took one touch into the box before firing a very good shot into the net to make it 2–1.

Kolding continued to push and created a few opportunities, but AB's defense managed to deal with them.

With just under 15 minutes remaining, Saliou Diop had another chance after a good pass from Milan Silva Rasmussen, but his effort was blocked.

After 87 minutes, Marcus Immersen came on for Milan Silva Rasmussen.

At the same time, Tobias Lykkebak replaced Søren Ilsøe in midfield, with Ilsøe handing the captain's armband to Marco Vesterholm.

In the final minutes, AB created several chances to equalize, including a number of headers from Gabriel Noga. He rose high but couldn't find the back of the net.

In the final minute, Kolding prevented Tobias Hageltorn from continuing his run toward goal without being penalized. Just before the final whistle, Marcus Immersen was also stopped as he made his run toward goal. From the outside, it appeared that a free kick should clearly have been awarded, and potentially a red card as the Kolding player was the last defender.

The incident resulted in a red card for AB's coach after he pushed an advertising board.

Captain Søren Ilsøe admitted AB's first half was far below their standards:

“The first half was, to put it mildly, really poor. They scored two incredibly easy goals. We didn't come out and play in the way we wanted to at all.

They simply played through us, and they were much better than us in the first half. They were good at overpowering us in the areas where they wanted to get through.

The right areas for them were out wide, and we tried to keep up. They were also good at winning second balls and surrounding us with several players. Apparently, it took us 45 minutes to figure that out.

During the second half, we needed to score to make it 2–2. We didn't, but toward the end we had several good attempts from Gabriel Noga's headers, and there was also what looked like a decision that should have gone our way at the end.”

Head coach Fannar Berg Gunnólfsson was very disappointed after the match:

“I was disappointed with my team in the first half. It looked like 11 individuals during the first 45 minutes. We knew we could beat them, but it requires teamwork to win football matches.

We didn't play together for 45 minutes, and it's difficult away from home to get back into a game when you're 2–0 down. We played an acceptable second half, but the task was too big.

Kolding were more aggressive and used their physicality, and they seemed much more ready to play. We allowed them to disrupt us, but there were also moments when we felt overlooked by the referee.

The players spent energy throwing their arms up over a bad pass or a decision from the referee that didn't go our way. They focused on things that frustrated us. Instead of fighting and giving everything we had, we allowed Kolding to outplay us and outfight us, and that's why we lost the game.

They scored two goals, and they deserved those goals, but it was too much for us to overcome. We have to work for everything we do, and of course that's what we always want to do — but right now I'm very disappointed.”

AB's next match will be played Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM against AAB at Gladsaxe Stadion.