Sise’s Nordsjælland held while Mal’s Kalju continues fine run

Joe Sise FC Nordsjælland’s title bid suffered a significant blow following a 1-1 draw at FC Midtjylland at the MCH Arena.

After a tightly-fought scoreless first hour of play in which Midtjylland looked the more dangerous of the two, they gave themselves the advantage they so desperately needed, as Sylvester Igboun worked his way in from the right and teed the ball up for Jakob Poulsen for a rocket that flew just inside the upper left corner.

The game looked for an important win for the hosts in their quest to overtake the Wild Tigers for Champions League qualification; however Nordsjælland found a late equalizer to protect their lead in the standings.

Patrick Mtiliga stole the ball in the defensive end of the field to start a counter-attack, then 70 yards upfield ran onto a through ball from Tobias Mikkelsen, and hit a perfect cross to the far side of goal which Rawez Lawan headed in just grazing the upright for the equalizer.

The point maintains the Wild Tigers’ seven-point gap ahead of the Wolves [Midtjylland] although now leaves them with just a four-point advantage over third-place Horsens in the race for Denmark’s second Champions League spot with eight games remaining.

They next host fifth-place Silkeborg on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in Estonia, Yankuba “Mal” Ceesay’s Kalju stay top of the Meistriliiga table with their fifth win from their first six matches, a routine 2-0 win at Sillamäe Kalev. The goals came from 21-year-old Italian midfielder Damiano Quinteri, his third of the season already, and Oliver Konsa.

Mal’s Kalju hosts FC Flora Talinn next.