Gå til hovedindhold

Franculino scores contender for Goal of the Year as Midtjylland preserve perfect record

Guinea-Bissau striker Franculino scored his first goal since April
Guinea-Bissau striker Franculino scored his first goal since AprilCredit: BO AMSTRUP / Ritzau Scanpix / Ritzau Scanpix via AFP / Profimedia

Guinea-Bissau striker Franculino, who is rumored to become the most expensive player ever to leave Scandinavian football, scored a potential contender for Goal of the Year when he helped FC Midtjylland to preserve their perfect record in the new Danish Superliga season as they won 2-1 at home against AC Horsens to restore their morale after the disappointing Europa League exit against Besiktas.

As expected, the home team dominated the match in Herning from the first whistle. Horsens kept up the pace well, but after half an hour, last season's top scorer, Franculino Djú, demonstrated his immense individual quality.

The 22-year-old forward scored his first goal of the season when he controlled a pass from Valdemar Byskov and volleyed the ball into the net past a helpless Horsens keeper, Matej Delac, to open the account for the home side. 

Shortly before halftime, Dario Osorio delivered a fine assist to Friday Etim. And the forward, who was signed from FC Fredericia earlier in the summe also went on to score his first goal of the season.

FC Midtjylland went into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead, but Horsens far from threw in the towel. In the 63rd minute, the visitors managed to put the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside in the build-up.

FC Midtjylland - AC Horsens - Player Ratings
FC Midtjylland - AC Horsens - Player RatingsFlashare

It served as a clear warning to the Midtjylland side, however, and the threat materialized in the 78th minute. Jimi Tauriainen found Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, who reduced the deficit to 1-2 with a fine finish.

Midtjylland really should have put the game to bed a few minutes before the end, though. In a bizarre incident, Horsens goalkeeper Matej Delac put the ball down, believing a free-kick had been awarded.

The ball remained in play, however, and fell to the feet of FCM's Stanley Iheanacho; he should have scored but instead missed a golden opportunity.

Nevertheless, the Midtjylland side managed to hold firm in the closing stages and secured their second victory of the season.

FC Nordsjaelland - Randers - Player Ratings
FC Nordsjaelland - Randers - Player RatingsFlashare

In the other game of the afternoon, FC Nordsjaelland, riding high after their 6-0 humiliation of GAIS in the Conference league on Thursday, recorded a last-gasp win against Randers. 

FC Nordsjælland needed every minute of Sunday's home match against Randers FC to secure their first Superliga win of the season.

It was only deep into stoppage time that Runar Norheim, who had otherwise squandered a host of chances, finally managed to get on the scoreboard to seal a 1–0 victory. With the final action of the match, he headed a cross from Tobias Salquist into the net, securing three points for the hosts.

FC Nordsjaelland now has four points from two matches, while Randers is still searching for their first major success of the season.