UECL: Midtjylland Stumble In Albania After Egnatia Move To Elbasan

Danish giants held by Minnows in empty Elbasan

FC Midtjylland were held to a 1-1 draw away to Albanian minnows Egnatia as Cho Gue-Sung's equaliser was not enough in the Conference League.

FC Midtjylland lacked a clinical edge and had to settle for a 1-1 draw away to Albanian side Egnatia...

FC Midtjylland got their first points on the board in the Conference League league phase, but the Central Jutland side will be disappointed to have taken just a single point away to Egnatia - a team from the tournament's lowest seeding pot.

In a bleak setting, the visitors had to settle for a 1-1 draw, a scoreline that was also in place at half-time.

The match was originally scheduled to be played in Tirana, but due to demonstrations in the capital, it was moved at short notice to Elbasan, around 40 kilometres to the southeast.

The stadium was almost empty, contributing to a contest that lacked intensity and tension. The visitors from Central Jutland got off to a poor start, falling behind in the 26th minute when Altin Kryeziu delivered a perfect ball from the right flank, dropping it in behind the Danish defence.

At the far post, Ildi Gruda snuck in behind Rasmus Nissen Kristensen and headed home, beating Nordin Bakker - who was once again deputising for the ill Elias Olafsson in the Midtjylland goal.

However, Nissen Kristensen quickly made amends at the other end. He sent in a cross from the right, finding both Mileta Rajovic and Cho Gue-Sung completely unmarked in the middle of the box.

The ball fell to the South Korean, who nodded his side level at 1-1 with ease. That remained the score at the break. While the first 45 minutes were relatively even, the visitors took control in the second half.

Egnatia were pushed back, and as the game wore on, it became a matter of pure survival for the home side.

Match Momentum: Egnatia 1-1 FC Midtjylland

Ultimately, though, the visitors lacked inspiration and failed to capitalise on their physical superiority. The closest they came to taking the lead was when centre-back Mads Bech saw a header cleared off the line by a defender.

With ten minutes remaining, substitute Mikael Uhre poked the ball into the net after the Egnatia goalkeeper spilled it. However, the referee had spotted a foul in the build-up, and his decision stood following a VAR check.

The early #UECL fixtures are done! How did your team get on? 🤔 https://t.co/YS1AKBZKci

— UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) October 15, 2026