Ronan Curtis got a consolation goal for Derry in Denmark tonight
KENNY Shiels battle plan before tonight’s game in Denmark was all about trying to contain his opponents.
But despite the best efforts of his players, Derry City just couldn’t hold out to the advancing FC Midtjylland in this Europa League first round qualifier.
The Danish Superliga side took control from the outset as Marc dal Hende found the net in the fourth minute.
Kristian Riis sidefooted in and captain Jakob Poulsen scored from the penalty spot to make it 3-0 at half-time.
Simon Kroon was on target twice in two minutes around the hour mark, before Ronan Curtis pulled one back, but Bozhidar Kraev added his side’s sixth.
The League of Ireland Premier Division side went into the game as underdogs against a Danish outfit who recently finished fourth in their league and qualified for Europe through a play-off.
The home side were two goals to the good within a quarter of an hour, then Derry had their first chance but striker Rory Patterson shot wide.
Doherty saved one-on-one with Paul Onuachu but Poulsen increased his side’s lead prior to the interval.
Derry had a penalty appeal turned down early in the second half when Ronan Curtis appeared to be brought down inside the area, but Kroon’s double salvo somewhat sapped the morale of Kenny Shiels’ charges.
Curtis’s consolation was followed by Kraev’s goal to leave the game at 6-1 to the Dane’s
It will be an uphill task for Candy Stripes when they host next week’s second leg at the Sligo Showgrounds.
The winners will face Ferencvaros of Hungary or Jelgava of Latvia in the next qualifying round of the competition.
