Ibrahim Adel starts as FC Nordsjælland reach UEFA Conference League stage

FC Nordsjælland secured a place in the UEFA Conference League league phase after beating FC St. Gallen 1879 3-2 in Switzerland to complete a 4-1 aggregate victory.

The Danish side had taken a narrow advantage into the second leg, winning 1-0 in the first meeting in Denmark. They repeated that success in a five-goal match to progress to the next stage of the competition.

Egypt winger Ibrahim Adel started for FC Nordsjælland but was substituted at half-time. He was booked in the fourth minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

FC Nordsjælland made the faster start and went ahead after 14 minutes when Yoho Lahtinenmaki found the net.

FC St. Gallen 1879, described as the Swiss champions, responded seven minutes later through Lukas Gortler to level the score.

The visitors restored their lead just three minutes after that. Prince Amako scored in the 24th minute to put FC Nordsjælland 2-1 up.

The momentum continued to swing as FC St. Gallen 1879 equalised again in the 28th minute. Guinea international Alieu Balde scored to make it 2-2 and give the home side renewed hope of overturning the first-leg deficit.

Those hopes were weakened before half-time when FC St. Gallen 1879 midfielder Mihajlo Stevanovic was sent off in the 39th minute after receiving a second yellow card.

Despite finishing the opening period with 10 players, the Swiss side remained within one goal of turning the tie around. FC Nordsjælland, however, held their advantage at the interval, leading 2-1 on the night.

The Danish team eventually delivered the decisive blow eight minutes from the end of normal time. Hjalte Bo Rasmussen scored in the 82nd minute to put FC Nordsjælland 3-2 ahead and effectively end FC St. Gallen 1879’s hopes of a comeback.

The result confirmed FC Nordsjælland’s qualification for the league phase of the UEFA Conference League, with the Danish club advancing after winning both legs of the tie.

The draw for the UEFA Conference League league phase is scheduled to take place at midday on Friday, 28 August.