UEL: FC Midtjylland Edges Sturm Graz 2-0 in UEFA Europa Leagu

Own Goal and late strike secure 2-0 win for Midtjylland

FC Midtjylland's 2-0 win over Sturm Graz in the UEFA Europa League. Oliver Christensen's own goal and Ousmane Diao's late strike secured the win.

FC Midtjylland's Europa League campaign gets off to a winning start...

FC Midtjylland kicked off their UEFA Europa League campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over SK Sturm Graz at the MCH Arena in Herning. The Danes secured their win thanks to an own goal by Sturm Graz's goalkeeper Oliver Christensen and a late strike from Ousmane Diao.

The match got off to a swift start, with Midtjylland taking the lead just nine minutes in. A corner kick proved disastrous for Sturm Graz as Oliver Christensen failed to clear the ball, inadvertently spilling it into his own net. This marked the beginning of a challenging day for the Austrian side's goalkeeper.

Ousmane Diao sealed the win for Midtjylland with a late goal, capping off a successful evening for the home side. This victory marks Midtjylland's first matchday one success in the Europa League in a decade, a testament to the team's determination and skill. Sturm Graz, on the other hand, will look to regroup and bounce back in their next match.

The match began with a series of intense man-to-man duels and physical challenges as both teams battled for control. This led to numerous free kicks being awarded to both sides and frequent stoppages in play, disrupting the flow of the game. Neither team could establish a consistent rhythm, resulting in a disjointed and stop-start affair.

Despite the lack of cohesion, the visitors did manage to create a promising opportunity midway through the first half. After Kevin Mbabu lost his footing, Sturm's Maurice Malone found himself face-to-face with Midtjylland goalkeeper Elias Olafsson. However, Olafsson made a crucial save with quick reflexes, denying Malone's effort and preserving the Danish side's lead.

A few moments later, FC Midtjylland's goalkeeper, Elías Rafn Ólafsson, was called upon to make another crucial save. Tochi Chukwuani finished a well-worked Austrian attack, but Ólafsson was equal to the task, denying the visitors once again.

Perfekt start på ligaspillet ⭐#FCMSTU pic.twitter.com/9KPCO93J1F

— FC Midtjylland (@fcmidtjylland) September 24, 2025

Just after the hour mark, FC Midtjylland thought they had doubled their lead when Juníor Brumado headed home a cross. However, after a thorough VAR check, the goal was ruled out for offside, much to the disappointment of the home side. The decision kept the score at 1-0 in favor of FC Midtjylland, with the visitors still searching for an equalizer.

Late Drama and Final Score

As the match entered its final 15 minutes, Sturm Graz pushed hard for an equalizer. Timo Horvat had a promising opportunity inside the box, but Mads Bech Sørensen intervened with a timely tackle to deny the Austrian side.

The home side sealed the win in the final minutes when Ousmane Diao headed home a cross from Aral Şimşir. Sturm Graz's goalkeeper, Oliver Christensen, had another difficult moment as he failed to adequately deal with the cross, allowing Diao to score the decisive second goal. The 2-0 scoreline marked a convincing victory for FC Midtjylland.