FC Midtjylland Sends a Strong Message to Hibs
FC Midtjylland delivered a resounding message to Hibernian ahead of their Europa League qualification return leg. They demolished Sonderjyske with a 6-2 victory in the Danish Superliga on Monday evening. Franculino was the star of the show, bagging a hat-trick in a dominant performance.
Despite falling behind early in the game, for the third consecutive home match against Sonderjyske, Midtjylland showed their resilience. Unlike their previous matches, they managed to turn the game around decisively.
This impressive win marked FCM's first victory of the season, following a 3-3 draw against OB and a 1-1 draw against Hibernian in the Europa League qualifier. The team displayed a slow start in the first fifteen minutes but recovered thanks to individual brilliance.
Franculino's Hat-Trick Fuels Midtjylland's Victory
After Alexander Lyng opened the scoring for Sonderjyske in the ninth minute, Franculino equalized for the home side eight minutes later. Thomas Thomasberg's men then executed a well-crafted counter-attack, finished off by Adam Gabriel, putting them ahead. Franculino added another goal before halftime, capitalizing on a long throw-in to extend their lead.
Sonderjyske attempted a comeback after the break, but Valdemar Byskov extinguished their hopes with a fourth goal after 65 minutes, assisted by Franculino. Franculino then completed his hat-trick, and Mads Bech Sorensen also found the net before Magnus Jensen scored a late consolation goal for Sonderjyske.
The win provides a significant confidence boost for FC Midtjylland as they prepare for the crucial return leg against Hibernian in the Europa League. They will be looking to build on this momentum and secure their place in the next round.