The Great Qualifier Comeback: Historic Advancement After 4:1 Home Defeat
Aarhus, which won the Danish championship after 40 years, stunned with a huge turnaround in Poland: 3:0 in 90 minutes, 4:1 after extra time, and 3:4 in a penalty shootout.
While Hapoel Be'er Sheva celebrated its comeback against Vikingur, an even greater turnaround was recorded in Poland. AGF Aarhus, which won the Danish championship after 40 years, was defeated 4:1 at home by Lech Poznań in the first leg, but in the return leg, it stunned with a 3:0 away win in 90 minutes. The team forced extra time where it conceded and then equalized to 4:1, eventually winning 3:4 in a penalty shootout to advance to the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Thus, in its return season to UEFA competitions, it secured historic participation in a European league or group stage.
The man behind the achievement is Jakob Poulsen, a former Monaco and Denmark national team midfielder who also wore the team's jersey during his playing days (between 2008 and 2010). He had previously coached only Viborg, received the job a little over a year ago, and led Aarhus to its sixth championship in its history and its first since 1986.
The hero of the match was the Norwegian goalkeeper Mads Hedenstad, who finished with eight saves and also saved the third penalty in the shootout, taken by 21-year-old Antoni Kozubal.
Aarhus's victim is also Danish. Niels Frederiksen left Denmark for the first time in May 2024 to coach Lech Poznań, leading it to two consecutive championships and one victory in the Polish Super Cup. In both seasons, he was chosen as the coach of the season in the Polish league, but this result may undermine his status.
