Soccer

Midtjylland add insult to injury as Derry crushed

Candystripes suffer 10-2 aggregate defeat to Danish side

Derry’s Lukas Schubert with Paul Onuachu of FC Midtjylland after the game. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Thu Jul 6 2017 - 22:14

Derry City 1 Midtjylland 4 (Agg: 2-10)

Derry City made a painful exit from the Europa League at the Sligo Showgrounds, but the class and superiority of FC Midtjylland again shone, the Danish side one of the top seeds at this early stage of the competition.

A hat-trick by towering striker, Paul Onuachi, put the Candystripes to the sword for a second time, the classy Danish side refusing to offer any sympathy

In fact, the visitors fielded exactly the same team which reaped that first leg 6-1 victory in Herning and it was clear that Kenny Shiels’ side would experience another test of their character.

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On the plus side, Aaron McEneff salvaged a consolation goal but, if the truth be told, the Derry 'keeper Ger Doherty certainly played a captain's role having made a litany of fine saves over the 90 minutes to keep this 'home' leg defeat more respectable.

Onuachi helped himself to a hat-trick - he failed to score in Denmark - the Nigerian international breaking the deadlock after just seven minutes with a low strike into the corner.

And Onuachi doubled that advantage five minutes before the break following a corner.

However, Derry gained a crumb of comfort just after that goal when managing to reduce the deficit. McEneff took advantage of a rare Midtiylland error, the midfielder driving the ball home under the body of Danish ‘keeper.

After the break Midtiylland substitute, Gustav Wikheim, made it 3-1 with his first touch before Onuachu netted his third and his side's fourth goal in the 68th minute.

Derry City: G. Doherty; Monaghan, Whiteside (Todd, 70), Jarvis, B. Doherty; Low, McEneff, Holden (Timlin, 74), Schubert, Curtis; Boyle (Patterson, 61).

FC Midtiylland: J. Hansen; Remer (Hassan, 66), Korcsmar, Riis (K. Hansen, h/t), Del Hende; Sparv, Poulsen, Drachmann; Kraev, Onuachu, Kroon (Wikheim, 57).

Referee: R Obrenovic (Slovenia)

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