Game : Aab Aalborg vs Deportivo La Coruna
Competition : UEFA Cup Round of 32, First Leg
Date : 18 February 2009
To see the second leg report, please click here.
Final score : Aab Aalborg 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna ( Anders Due 53′, Anders Due 72′, Michael Jakobsen 90’pen)
Injury hit Deportivo La Coruna face an uphill task to qualify for the next round of the UEFA Cup after they lost 3-0 to Danish champions Aalborg at the Energi Nord Arena.
Deportivo, who came into this game having drawn against Mallorca and Osasuna in the La Liga, struggled to find a way past their opponents, who showed no signs of lacking match fitness despite not having played a single game since December.
Brazilian Caca missed a glorious opportunity to put Aalborg ahead from point blank range as early as the 2nd minute after Michael Jakobsen had swung in a cross from the left. Jakobsen himself had the next major chance, denied by Aranzubia after Due sent his free kick into the Deportivo box. Deportivo did have possession, but were unable to make it count in the first half.
Anders Due broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half, scoring from eight yards out. He cleverly deceived Sergio and then blasted home.The ball took a deflection off Sergio Lopo on its way past Aranzubia.
At the other end Mista’s overhead kick hit the bar, and Sergio Gonzalez also had an attempt from the edge of the box.
Aranzubia saved Thomas Enevoldsen’s close range shot with his feet in the 70th minute, but couldn’t stop the next one from going in. A marvellous move down the right hand side saw the ball being fed to Kasper Bogelund, whose defence splitting pass was collected by Thomas Enevoldsen. Enevoldsen unselfishly sent the ball across to an unmarked Due, who got his second of the game.
The third goal was probably a bit harsh on Deportivo. Aranzubia was penalised for allegedly bringing down Jeppe Lund Curth in the area. Jakobsen smashed the resulting penalty into the top right corner to make it 3-0.
Deportivo coach Miguel Angel Lotina was at a loss to explain the margin of defeat, but was hopeful that his side could overcome the deficit at the Riazor a week from now.