GAIS made a historic return to European competition as they beat Nordsjälland 1–0 in the Conference League qualifiers. Matteo de Brienne became the match hero with a stunning strike late in the first half. It was GAIS's first European match since 1990 and a night fans will remember for a long time.
What happened in the match?
GAIS dominated large parts of the match and created several dangerous chances. The only goal came in the 42nd minute when De Brienne unleashed a full-volley from outside the box that flew into the goalkeeper's top corner. The match was played at Gamla Ullevi and was GAIS's first European match since 1990.
Why this is historic for GAIS
This was GAIS's first European match in 36 years and a big achievement for the team. The last time they played in Europe was in 1990 against Torpedo Moskva in the UEFA Cup. Now they are back and have a good chance of advancing to the next round. The team currently sits third in Allsvenskan with 52 points from 30 matches and has won four of their last five games.
What's next for GAIS?
GAIS will take a 1–0 lead into the return leg in Farum next Thursday. Joackim Fagerjord, GAIS midfielder, says the team will need to be even sharper on the Danish artificial turf. The team is in strong form and looks set to progress in the tournament.
Oscar Pettersson came close to making it 2–0 in the seventh minute but hit the crossbar. GAIS captain August Wängberg praised the fans after the match, calling it one of the best supporter performances he has been part of.
