Two Set Pieces Decided the Match Against AaB

AB Gladsaxe played a very good match against Danish football giants AaB at Gladsaxe Stadion today. The match was watched by 1,558 spectators.

Unfortunately, AB lost the match 2–0. AaB took the lead after 15 minutes when Kornelius Normann scored directly from a free kick. After 78 minutes, AaB’s Jubril Adedeji scored from the penalty spot. It was certainly not the clearest penalty ever seen at Gladsaxe Stadion.

It was a very even match between two teams that both wanted to attack. The game was played at a high tempo in periods and was an open contest that went back and forth.

Overall, AB played a good match, and there are plenty of positives to take into the upcoming games. Another positive was seeing Adrien Koudelka return to the defense following the serious knee injury he suffered back in May. Koudelka came on for the final 10 minutes.

AB’s starting lineup

The coaching staff made changes for the match against AaB compared with last Saturday’s match against Kolding IF. Travian Sousa was unavailable through injury and was replaced at left back by William Warrer, who made his first start. Casper Grening started on the bench, while Saliou Diop led the line with Milan Silva Rasmussen playing just behind him.

AB’s starting lineup was Adam Benediktsson in goal, Tobias Damtoft at right back and William Warrer at left back. Aidan Liu partnered Gabriel Noga in central defense, while Søren Ilsøe (captain) and Marco Vesterholm played in midfield. Jonathan Mathys played on the left wing, O’Vonte Mullings on the right, with Milan Silva Rasmussen and Saliou Diop up front.

First half

The visitors had the first major chance when AaB reached the byline and delivered a precise cross into the box. The cross was blocked by Aidan Liu very close to goal. A long throw toward Saliou Diop created an opportunity for AB, but his effort went wide.

O’Vonte Mullings was a constant challenge for AaB’s defense whenever he reached the byline and was able to deliver the ball into the penalty area. Unfortunately, the crosses were either cleared away or AB’s finishing was not clinical enough to create dangerous chances.

After 15 minutes, Kornelius Normann struck a well-taken free kick that found the net low by the left-hand post to give AaB a 1–0 lead.

Just two minutes later, AaB had a one-on-one opportunity, but Adam Benediktsson collected the final shot. Around 10 minutes later, a long switch found O’Vonte Mullings, who delivered a cross into the box. AaB’s defense cleared the ball, but it fell to Saliou Diop, whose effort went over the bar.

Second half

The start of the second half was lively from both teams, but AB came closest to scoring when Gabriel Noga headed narrowly over from a corner.

Shortly afterward, O’Vonte Mullings played an excellent pass to Jonathan Mathys, who found himself through on goal. He had an AaB player alongside him but still managed to get his shot away, narrowly missing the target.

AaB then quickly moved forward, passing the ball around with short combinations before getting a shot away that went over the goal.

Milan Silva Rasmussen once again produced some good efforts on goal, and after 63 minutes AB came close to pulling one back when his shot struck the crossbar.

In the 68th minute, William Warrer left the pitch, with Tobias Damtoft moving to left back and Tobias Lykkebak coming on at right back. Casper Grening entered the match to take over the left wing from Jonathan Mathys. Two minutes later, Tobias Hageltorn came on to replace Saliou Diop up front.

AaB quickly moved forward, and Jubril Adedeji had just entered the penalty area when contact occurred with Aidan Liu. The referee awarded a penalty, which Adedeji converted to make it 2–0.

After 85 minutes, Adrien Koudelka came on as Søren Ilsøe left the pitch. Koudelka took his place in central defense, Aidan Liu moved to right back and Tobias Lykkebak moved into Ilsøe’s position in midfield. Milan Silva Rasmussen also left the pitch, with Marcus Immersen taking his place in attack.

O’Vonte Mullings created a chance for Tobias Hageltorn with a cross, but his effort also went wide. In the final moments of normal time, AaB got a shot away, but fortunately for AB, it struck the post.

The match ended 2–0 to AaB.

Captain Søren Ilsøe said AB needs to have better control of the match-defining moments: “They score from a free kick and a penalty—a penalty that I find difficult to understand. It also looked like the AaB players were surprised that a penalty had been awarded. I think we created quite a few chances and had a really big opportunity that could have made it 1–1.

I actually think we dominated them on the ball. We also managed to shut AaB down well for most of the match. Of course, they had some counterattacks where we were caught a little off balance, but otherwise, I think we dominated most of the game.

The 2–0 scoreline doesn't reflect the match or the way it was played. AaB scored from the chances they had, and we have to work harder to score goals, so we need to find a little more clinical edge. Overall, I think there are good things to take from the match. We can definitely use today's performance again—but we need to take control of the decisive moments in matches.”

Assistant coach Benjamin Chor felt it was bitter to lose from two set pieces:

“First and foremost, I think we did many things right. We created the things we need to create to win a football match. We're still missing a little when it comes to showing the collective quality that I know we have. It becomes a little too individual at times, and that's not really criticism of the individual players, but we need to do things more together. We need to bring it all together as a unit.

We lose from a free kick and a penalty—and that's a little bitter to swallow.

We're happy with our performance; we're just not happy with the end product in the final third.

Having injuries at the moment will always create a certain dynamic. We also have some new players who need time to develop relationships together. But we have such good players that it's not something we're worried about. We actually feel like we have a luxury problem when it comes to bringing new players on.

We feel like we're strengthening the team every time because we know the players outside the starting lineup are hungry. You have to earn your place in the starting team, and when the players on the pitch have nothing more to give, new players simply come onto the field. We're really very happy with the squad we have.

AaB showed that they're a really good team. They play a slightly different type of football to the one we want to play, but what they do, they do well, so credit to them. They also made things difficult for us, but I think we had moments where we controlled them, broke up their play and got forward. We just lacked that final bit of quality today.”

AB’s next match will be played at Hillerød Stadion on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 13:00, when Hillerød Fodbold hosts AB.