FC Midtjylland were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against Scottish side Hibernian in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League second-round qualifier. Despite dominating large stretches of the game, the Danish outfit struggled to convert their chances, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg in Edinburgh.
Early Setback Rocks Midtjylland
The match began in disappointing fashion for Midtjylland, whose shaky defense was exposed within the first 10 minutes. Hibs midfielder Jamie McGrath made the most of a set-piece opportunity in the seventh minute, surprising Jonas Lössl with a curling free-kick from a tight angle. Although the Danish goalkeeper got a hand to it, the ball had already crossed the line before he could make the save—giving the visitors a shock early lead.
That goal sparked Midtjylland into life, as they began to dominate possession and push forward with intent. However, despite creating several openings, the final ball was often lacking, and the cutting edge in front of goal was missing.
Missed Chances and VAR Drama
Forward duo Franculino and Adam Buksa both had opportunities to equalize, but neither could find the net. Franculino squandered the best chance of the first half when he broke on the counterattack, only to send his shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Hibernian thought they had doubled their lead just before halftime when Martin Boyle found the net, but VAR ruled the goal offside, providing Midtjylland with a much-needed reprieve heading into the break.
Simsir’s Strike Saves the Day
The second half saw Midtjylland turn up the pressure, effectively camping in Hibernian’s half for long stretches. The Danish side created a number of chances but were continually thwarted by a well-organized Hibs defense and an impressive performance from goalkeeper Jordan Smith.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 70th minute when Aral Simsir stepped up with a moment of brilliance. From a set piece just outside the box, Simsir curled a superb shot into the near post, leaving Smith rooted to the spot and leveling the score at 1-1.
Late Push Falls Short
With Hibs visibly tiring, Midtjylland pressed hard for a winner in the final minutes. Kevin Mbabu had a golden opportunity to seal the comeback, but he couldn’t convert, much to the frustration of the home fans at MCH Arena.
In the end, Midtjylland had to settle for a result that felt more like two points dropped than one gained. The tie now heads to Easter Road with everything to play for in the second leg.
