GAIS left a strong impression against Nordsjælland in the Conference League qualifier on Thursday. The Danes, seen as favorites ahead of the double-header, were stunned by a 0-2 first-half defeat and were already trailing at halftime. Their coach Jens Fønsskov Olsen was left stunned by the performance.
What happened in the match?
Nordsjælland lost already at halftime to GAIS, who dominated the opening half. The Danes admitted they were too slow and lost too many close duels. – We weren’t happy with the first half, but it got a bit better in the second, Olsen said at the post-match press conference.
GAIS manager Fredrik Holmberg was also impressed, especially by the first half. – The second half wasn’t quite as good. The play got a bit strange, Holmberg said. The return leg is in Farum in exactly one week.
Why this matters for GAIS
The loss to GAIS is a major wake-up call for Nordsjælland. The Danes have prior European experience and played the Conference League group stage three years ago. Yet they were outplayed by a side expected to struggle at the bottom of the table.
GAIS showed a solid defensive display and created several chances. The team is currently third in Allsvenskan with 52 points from 30 games and has a +15 goal difference after scoring 45 and conceding 30.
What’s next?
Ahead of the return leg in Farum in one week, GAIS face Halmstad in Allsvenskan. Holmberg stressed that the domestic clash is the priority right now. – You can be happy with a good performance, but it’s only the first half so far, he said.
GAIS’s next Allsvenskan match is at home against Halmstad. The side sits 23 points behind league leaders Mjällby AIF but continues to impress with its play. Jonas Lindberg remains sidelined and is unavailable for selection.
