FC Midtjylland 6
Derry City 1
DERRY City were well beaten in Herning as FC Midtjylland all but secured their place in the next qualifying round with aa superb display of attacking football.
Kenny Shiels’ team did their best and could well have come away with more than one goal, but they were ultimately a class below their opponents, who defeated Manchester United at the MCH Arena just two years ago.
Derry were well warned of Midtjylland’s ability from set-plays but they were still caught cold just three minutes in as the host scored from their first free kick in a dangerous area. It was simple for the Danes as Jakob Poulson chipped a free kick from the right into the area and defender Marc Del Hende headed down past Gerard Doherty and into the net.
Derry responded well but another Midtjylland corner caught the visitors cold again and on 14 minutes it was 2-0. Kenny Shiels could only look on in disbelief as his team conceded from another setplay, Kristian Riis scuffing in Poulsen’s corner with not a Derry shirt in sight.
With half time approaching, Midtjylland added another goal to their tally when Gerard Doherty fouled Onuachu for a penalty and Jakob Poulsen calmly stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot, and the hosts went into the half time break with the job already done.
The second half started in controversial fashion as Ronan Curtis found himself one on one with the vulnerable Romer and skipped past the full back, only to be hauled back. It looked a definite penalty kick, but referee Hameter, 20 yards behind the play, said no penalty, much to the disbelief of Kenny Shiels who was absolutely furious on the touchline.
Midtjylland made it 4-0 just before the hour as Dal Hende played an absolutely sensational ball in behind the Derry defence and Simon Kroon latched onto it before scooping it past Doherty and into the net.
Within two minutes, it was 5-0 and Kroon was in again, all alone to pick his spot as he rolled in his second of the game, and the final whistle could not come quickly enough for Derry, who were now a spent force.
Derry refused to throw in the towel and on 65 minutes they grabbed a consolation goal. Defender Kristian Riis dallied on the ball in his own penalty area and Nathan Boyle pounced, squaring the ball across to team mate Ronan Curtis who lashed in an away goal, which was at least some reward for the travelling fans.
The hosts just kept coming at an exhausted Derry and they got their sixth when substitute Bozhidar Kraev found the corner from 18 yards.
Teams
FC Midtjylland: Jesper Hansen, Tim Sparv, Zsoli Korcsmar, Marc Dal Hende, Jakob Poulsen, Janus Drachmann (Gustav Wikheim 45’), Simon Kroon, Kristian Riis, Andre Romer, Paul Onuachu (Paul Onachu 57’), Rilwan Hassan (Rilwan Hassan 72’).
Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Dean Jarvis, Aaron Barry, Harry Monaghan (Lukas Schubert 63’), Ben Doherty, Nicky Low, Aaron McEneff, Rory Holden, Ronan Curtis, Rory Patterson (Josh Daniels 74’), Nathan Boyle (Mark Timlin 84’).
Referee: Maksimas Bechterevas.
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