Nigerian forward Friday Etim found the back of the net for FC Midtjylland, but his first-half equalizer proved insufficient as the Danish side suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat to AFC Ajax in the UEFA Conference League phase at the MCH Arena.
The 24-year-old striker, who started alongside Cho Gue-sung in Midtjylland’s attack, delivered a timely response after the hosts fell behind early in the encounter. Etim restored parity in the 28th minute, showing sharp instincts inside the penalty area to slot home and make it 1-1.
His goal briefly lifted the atmosphere at the MCH Arena and gave Midtjylland renewed belief as they sought to compete against the Dutch giants.
However, the game took a decisive turn in the 43rd minute when midfielder Kjell Wätjen received his second yellow card of the evening, reducing the Danish side to 10 men before halftime.
Midtjylland’s head coach was forced to make tactical adjustments during the break, with Etim substituted in the 45th minute as the team sought to reorganise following the dismissal.
Ajax capitalised on their numerical advantage after the restart, unleashing a relentless attacking display that saw them score five unanswered goals to complete a commanding 6-1 victory.
Despite the disappointing outcome for Midtjylland, Etim’s first-half strike stood out as a positive contribution on a difficult European night for the Danish outfit.
