- FC Midtjylland goalkeeper regrets disastrous mistake against FCSB
- The hosts scored just seconds into the second half of the Europa League clash.
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The FC Midtjylland goalkeeper suffered a monumental moment of embarrassment after one of the worst kick-off routines in history saw the opposition double their lead just seven seconds into the second half.
The Danish team have had a mixed campaign in the Europa League so far, sitting 13th overall, but had a golden opportunity to put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the round of 16 on Thursday night.
The clash against Romanian side FCSB was very close, with Florian Tanase giving the hosts a first-half lead over Midtjylland before the visitors shot themselves in the foot during a disastrous moment after the break.
Midtjylland manager Thomas Thomasberg had just given a lively half-time talk as his team tried to get back to parity, but his team conceded the goal seconds later.
When the match resumed, the ball was immediately returned to goalkeeper Elias Rafn Olafsson, who lost the ball while the FCSB players pressed intensely.
FC Midtjylland goalkeeper Elias Rafn Olafsson (left) regretted a big mistake in Thursday’s Europa League clash against FCSB.
FCSB’s Daniel Birligea (left) scored an easy goal just six seconds into the second half.
Olafsson was left lying in the middle of the field after receiving the ball on the kickoff
The goalkeeper had left his area to receive the ball on the kick-off and was left stranded in the middle of his own field while Midtjylland’s field players came forward waiting for a long ball.
However, disaster struck when Olafsson took too long with the ball and watched in horror as his attempted clearance hit FCSB striker Daniel Birligea, spun in the air and bounced towards the goal.
The Midtjylland players desperately ran back to try to prevent the ball from falling into the goal, but were futile in their efforts when Birligea beat Olafsson in a foot race and scored an incredibly easy tap-in.
FCSB players celebrated wildly inside the goal after doubling their lead against Midtjylland.
The FCSB players couldn’t believe their luck and celebrated emphatically by forming a crowd inside the goal as Midtjylland rueed a catastrophic mistake that ultimately condemned them to a 2-0 defeat.
Fans and technical staff inside the National Stadium were equally stunned by the bizarre goal which has since gone viral on social media and fans are shocked by the goalkeeper’s mistake.
“A nightmare start,” said one X viewer who was left horrified by the error which has left Midtjylland’s Europa League qualification hopes in doubt.
The Danish team currently has seven points from four Europa League matches and faces strong competition against Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in the next round of matches.