From: fischer@iesd.auc.dk (Lars Peter Fischer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Danish teams in EC, 1st round, 2nd leg
Date: 30 Sep 92 17:26:30 GMT
Organization: Mathematics and Computer Science, Aalborg University



 AGF (Aarhus) - AIK Stockholm  1-1 (0-1)
   0-1 Pascal Simpson (20)
   1-1 Bo Harder (65)
 Played in Aarhus, Sept. 29th. Spectators: 9000
 AGF advances on away goals after two draws and a aggregate score of 4-4.

AGF opened the game looking very nervous and with little control over
events. AGF was constantly loosing easy balls and AIK had the upper
hand in just about every man-to-man situation. AIK new they had to
score and was pressing hard to do so. After 6 minutes Peter Hallstr"om
received an open chance in the box, but the shot went wide. AGF had no
real offensive in this period as the midfield could not control the
ball. After 20 minutes a long throw from AGF keeper Troels Rasmussen
was intercepted, and the quick counter attack as AGF was on the way
forward led to Gary Sundgren coming free in the left side of the box.
A few dribles and a fine cross to Pascal Simpson who first-timed
nicely and AIK had a deserved lead.

The game lost a bit tempo and AGF got more say without ever being in
control as AIK concentrated more on defense. AGF had their first
attempt at the goal after 30 minutes, but Lasse Skov's shot went wide.
Jan Bartram put a bit of energy into the AGF midfield, but lack of
precision and good efficient work by AIK ruined most of AGFs play. AIK
was still winning man-to-man situations. AGF looked a bit better in
the last 10 minutes of the half and Stig T/ofting had a nice chance,
but in all a very weak first half for AGF.

In the second half AGF looked a bit determined and was meeting AIK
higher in the field, putting more pressure on the Swedish side. Five
minutes into the half a fine deep ball from Bartram lead to a chance
for T/ofting, but he was pressed between two defenders and fell over.
The crowed wanted a penalty, but the referee (rightly) ignored them.
12 minutes into the half a free kick on the left side was sent into
the box by Bartram, and S/oren Andersen sent a fine header close to
the post, but the attempt was beautifully saved by Swedish keeper Bernt
Ljung. The following corner was headed away from the box. Bo Harder
controlled the ball with the chest a sent a shot some 2 meters above
the goal.

AGF was getting more and more into the game, and especially the left
side of the Swedish defense was having problems. 20 minutes into the
half Stig T/ofting did a number of fine dribles, reached the goal
line, sent a cross into the box where it rebounded from a defender.
T/ofting controlled the ball again, sent another cross that passed
through the box to the right where Bo Harder first-timed the ball into
the roof of the goal with a fine shot. Five minutes later a number of
misunderstandings in the AGF defense lead to a big chance for
Vadim Jevtusjenko but former Danish international Troels Rasmussen
pulled a great save.

The left side of the AIK defense was still having troubles, giving AGF
a number of dangerous raids, especially as AIK wsa now forced to
resume their offensive. A few fine combinations between Bartram and
T/ofting and T/ofting sent a fine high volley into the box where a
charging S/oren Andersen was inches from reaching the ball for a
header from close range with an open goal. A fine pass from Bartram
gave Andersen a new chance. He missed a pass, got the rebound,
controlled the ball and shot from close range, but Ljung performed an
amazing save. The ball rebounded to T/ofting, but he took to0 long to
decide what to do and his shot was intercepted by a defender in a
chance that should have given a goal. A while later a deep ball from
Bartram sent S/oren Andersen in a run towards the goal, but his shot
close to the post was diverted by another fine save by Ljung. AGF sent
in Palle S/orensen as a sub fo Torben Christensen, and he did well
with his technically good play and fast combinations. AIK opened a
mighty pressure towards the AGF goals in the final minutes of the
game, but nothing came of it.

In all a very equal game that could have gone to either side. AIK had
the upper hand in the first half, AGF in the second half. AGF today
had the bit of luck it takes to pull out as a winner in a game between
equals. The game was by no means a classic but proved to be quite
intense, with moments of fine play from both teams. Jevtusjenko and
Ljung was very good for the Swedish side, Bartram and especially
T/ofting for the Danish side.

			========== o ==========

 Frem (Copenhagen) - Xamax Neuchatel  4-1 (3-1)
   1-0 Piotr Haren (16)
   2-0 Henrik Imre Jensen (18)
   2-1 Giuseppe Manfreda (25)
   3-1 Piotr Haren (35)
   4-1 Thomas Th/ogersen (53)
   Red card, Girino Gotari, Xamax (56)
 Played in Valby (Copenhagen suburb), Sept. 29th, spectators: 3400
 Frem advances with 3 points and an aggregate score of 6-3.

After a surprising 2-2 in Switzerland, no-one really new what to
expect from Frem. In the past weekend Frem lost 4-0 in Silkeborg and
appeared to be falling apart, so I had my doubts. Frem opened the game
looking very nervous, and the first few minutes saw a few situations
with panic in the Frem defense and a big chance for Xamax's Giuseppe
Manfreda, but veteran keeper Per Wind pulled a number of great saves.
After a nervous and hectic first 15 minutes, a random high ball into
the Xamax half was completely missed by Xamax defender and Egyptian
international Hamy Ramzy. This horrible mistake lead Piotr Haren to
come alone with the keeper, and he scored with no chance for the Xamax
goalkeeper. Frem apparently saw a possibility in these long balls for
Haren, and only two minutes later such pass led Haren to rush past a
defender and into the box where he was immediately kicked down. A
clear penalty. Henrik Imre Jensen took the penalty, but the keeper
saved, sending the ball into the post where it rebounded, giving
Jensen another try that he did not miss.

Xamax now opened an offensive, and since they managed to equalize a
2-0 lead for Frem in the first game, the situation still looked open.
Seven minutes of this, and a beautifully controlled volley into the
box was received by Manfreda who took a short dribble and nicely
lifted the ball into the goal from the middle of the box. Xamax proved
in this period that they can play some nice combinations and are very
dangerous if allowed room to operate. The Frem defense looked a little
shaky in this period. After another 10 minutes of this a deep ball
into the Xamax half was passed to the goalkeep by a defender. Piotr
Haren rushed to press the keeper, and he passed to Hamy Ramzy. Ramzy
did not control the ball well and lost it to Thomes Th/ogersen.
Th/ogersen moved into the box, drew the keeper out and passed to a
completely free Haren. 3-1 after another bad defense mistake.

After this Xamax seemed more or less to give up. Some pressure towards
the end of the half and in the beginning of the second half forced Per
Wind into a few fine saves, but there was little spirit in the Xamax
attempts. Only seven minutes into the second half Thomes Th/ogersen
and Piotr Haren did a nice 1-2 combination in front of the box,
leading Th/ogersen to a beautiful controlled shot close to the left
post. 4-1 and game looked settled. Only a minutes later a quick
combination with Th/ogersen brought Kim Mikkelsen forward to a shot
from the edge of the box, forcing a great saved from the Swizz keeper.
The Xamax defense was falling apart now, and Frem defender Dan Eggen
came close to scoring after a corner kick. Only 3 minutes after the
Frem goal a free kick committed by Kim Mikkelsen led to a bit of
quarrel, resulting in Xamax defender Girino Gotari hitting Mikkelsen,
whereupon Gotari was sent off. With this the game was settled and
nothing much happened in the final 30 minutes. A random mistake in the
Frem defense after 25 minutes led to a great chance for Manfreda close
to the Frem goal. Per Wind saved, Manfreda sent the rebound on the
post and received yet a rebound, but Per Wind managed to save again.
Manfreda lacked the luck in this situation.

Frem had the upper hand in most of this game, and after a shaky start
a number of bad Xamax defense mistake gave Frem a lead they managed to
ride home in fine style. Xamax tried to come back, but after the third
and fourth Frem goal Xamax appeared to fall apart and the result is
fair.

			========== o ==========

In all a fine day for Danish club football. From the outset I had my
doubts about AGFs possibility of making it, and I felt quite sure that
Frem would not stand a chance. Happily things turned out better than
that. If this reflects an improvement in the quality of Danish club
football or just a few lucky games is another matter entirely.

/Lars
--
Lars Fischer, fischer@iesd.auc.dk | It takes an uncommon mind to think of
CS Dept., Aalborg Univ., DENMARK. | these things.  -- Calvin