The Owls Returned to the Bog and Claimed a 4–2 Cup Win Over Brønshøj

AB progressed in the Betano Cup on Tuesday evening with a 4–2 victory over Brønshøj BK. The match was played in a fantastic setting, with a great atmosphere and 2,967 spectators in the stands. There were plenty of chants, plenty of cup fighting on the pitch, and the sun was shining over Tingbjerg Idrætspark.

Brønshøj BK made the better start and took a 1–0 lead after 13 minutes through former AB player Otto Dupont. Eight minutes later, Saliou Diop brought AB level. After 31 minutes, Marcus Immersen put AB ahead 2–1, which was also the score at halftime.

In the second half, Brønshøj's Tobias Friis made it 2–2 after 68 minutes. Just one minute later, Saliou Diop scored his second goal of the night to restore AB's lead at 3–2. Tobias Hageltorn scored the final goal of the match in the 79th minute to secure a 4–2 victory.

There was also a debut for 17-year-old U19 player Villum Stokbro, who came on at the start of the second half and put in a strong performance in the cauldron-like atmosphere under intense pressure.

AB's coaching staff had shuffled the pack significantly for the cup match. Aidan Liu was the only player to retain his place in the starting lineup from Saturday's match against Hvidovre IF.

AB's Starting XI

Marcus Bobjerg started in goal, with William Warrer at right back and Mikkel Brund at left back. Aidan Liu partnered Gabriel Noga in central defense, while Tobias Lykkebak and Alfred Horup played in midfield. Jonathan Mathys started on the left wing, Tobias Hageltorn on the right, with Marcus Immersen and Saliou Diop up front.

First Half

The match was only two minutes old when Brønshøj set the tone for the evening, heading a dangerous cross narrowly past the post.

AB responded with a quick counterattack, but the finish was saved by Brønshøj goalkeeper Lucas Chang-Andersen. Tobias Hageltorn then found Jonathan Mathys in the box, but once again Chang-Andersen made the save.

It was a messy start from AB, who struggled to establish their game early on. With so many changes to the team, the new combinations needed time to settle, but AB gradually began to build better relationships in their play.

Brønshøj looked to threaten on the counterattack and used good diagonal switches out to their wingers. After 13 minutes, Brønshøj's left winger got the better of Aidan Liu and sent the ball into the box, where Otto Skak was completely free to poke it home and give Brønshøj a 1–0 lead.

In the following attack, Jonathan Mathys had a chance to equalize, but his effort went narrowly past the post. AB gradually took more control of the match. In the 21st minute, Saliou Diop equalized to make it 1–1 following excellent work from Tobias Hageltorn, who won the ball from Brønshøj's deepest defender and played it to Diop, who finished confidently.

Marcus Immersen then put AB ahead 2–1 when Jonathan Mathys played the ball in behind the defense from the wing, with Immersen arriving first to the ball. Just before halftime, AB goalkeeper Marcus Bobjerg dealt well with a dangerous Brønshøj cross, rising high to claim the ball.

Second Half

At the start of the second half, Villum Stokbro came on at right back, while William Warrer moved into central defense. Aidan Liu, who had enjoyed a strong first half, took his place on the bench.

Brønshøj came out quickly after the break and sent a dangerous ball into the box from near the byline, but Marcus Bobjerg was in the right place. The changes in defense initially created some uncertainty. In the 54th minute, Brønshøj had a huge chance to level the score when a back pass to Marcus Bobjerg was too short. A Brønshøj player was completely free and had the opportunity to score, but the effort rolled narrowly past the post. Ten minutes later, Travian Sousa came on to replace Mikkel Brund at left back, while Søren Ilsøe replaced William Warrer in central defense.

Brønshøj never lost belief and continued to play positively and quickly going forward. They created several good chances, and in the 68th minute, Tobias Friis fired an excellent shot from the left side into the far corner to make it 2–2.

Following the goal, Noah Engell came on up front to replace Marcus Immersen, while Milan Silva Rasmussen entered on the left wing and Jonathan Mathys went off. Just one minute later, Noah Engell took charge, drove towards the byline and played the ball into the box for Saliou Diop, who put AB back on course for victory with his second goal of the night to make it 3–2 after 69 minutes. Ten minutes later, Tobias Hageltorn extended the lead to 4–2 with a decisive finish from near the edge of the penalty area.

Brønshøj created several more opportunities in the closing stages, but it was AB who ultimately progressed to the third round of the Betano Cup.

Captain Mikkel Brund said the match demonstrated the quality of the AB squad:

“It became a real cup match — almost like an ice hockey game — with a lot of end-to-end action and plenty of balls played in behind. If we break it down a little, we didn't get off to an optimal start and we went behind. But we responded quickly, showed some quality and got control of the game.

With so many changes to the team, there are naturally a few things that need time to settle. But after around 20 minutes, we had things under control and showed how good we are. Later in the match, when we brought players on from the bench, it was simply top class. In my opinion, it was a deserved victory. We gave Brønshøj an unfortunate chance towards the end, which thankfully they didn't score from. But we were clearly the better side, especially considering the big chances we had that could have resulted in even more goals, so I think the win was deserved. Now we're through in the cup, and it would be fun to draw one of the big teams from higher up the divisions.”

Head coach Fannar Berg Gunnólfsson praised both the performance and the atmosphere:

“It was really good work — and it was a fantastic and entertaining football match in this atmosphere. It was a big and impressive victory from the boys. In the first 10 minutes, we were a little hesitant and weren't ready in the press, and they punished us by scoring. As soon as we got that sorted and executed it properly, we started winning the ball and scoring.

We were in control in the first half apart from those first 10 minutes. In the second half, we had to fight harder. We had some injuries, so we couldn't do everything we wanted to. I waited with the substitutions for as long as we could, but as soon as we got fresh players onto the pitch, we finished the match strongly.

It was clear that all of the players were really happy to be playing, and they played with great joy and enthusiasm. The players who came on from the bench were also completely ready to play because it was such a fantastic atmosphere — it lifted everyone. We took the win, and now we're through to the next round.”

The draw for the third round of the Betano Cup will take place on Thursday evening, August 27, 2026, with the remaining Superliga teams entering the draw.

AB's next Betinia Liga match is away against Kolding IF on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM, at Autocentralen Park in Kolding.