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Arhus without one of the most important players

The last seasons League 2 champions, GOG from Gudme, opened their season with 2 wins and showed that their predictions for play-offs (Top 8) were not just dreams but a very solid reality

Last year's play-offs participants, Arhus, and the winners of the 2nd League, GOG Gudme, have had a very good start of the new season. Both teams won two games each, one home one away. The only difference is that GOG beat the two teams who will probably occupy the bottom parts of the table, while Arhus beat two teams that were movers and shakers in the league, Tvis Holstebro and Mors.

- It went very well. It was a very important win on a very difficult away game, and it is great to win such a narrow game - said Rune Ohm, who scored 10 goals.


The right back arrived to Arhus from Sønderjyske and has already been a great reinforcement, not just a worthy replacement for Simon Birkefeldt who had gone to Tvis Holstebro. It was him who scored the crucial winning 7 meter shot in the dying moments of the game. And with much effect and bravery.


- It feels nice having 4 points, but it is too early to predict anything. We must be sharp when GOG comes.


The coach Erik Veje Rasmussen can be happy that he ha 10 different scorers in a very tight match. Apart from Ohm, the best scorers were his son Nikolaj Veje Rasmussen (4), and right back Mikkel Saad (3).


 - This was an important win in a very difficult game. I am very happy with the first 45 minutes in which we dominated and had the 20-15 lead. Our concentration fell in the mid second half when Henrik Hansen went out with a seemingly serious injury - said coach Veje Rassmussen.

- In the final moments, when Mors took the lead, our goalkeeper Jan Nielsen made all the difference and my players scored some goals coolly, despite their significance.

Regarding Hansen's injury, who is the first-choice middle back and one of the most important players, he tore his hamstring. He felt a sharp pain immediately after the game and the examination only confirmed what they were afraid of:

- I was told to take a 2-6 week break and I don't know when exactly I will be able to play again. 

So, Nikolaj Veje will take the role of the organizer and the young midfielder knows full well what to expect against GOG whom they beat in the last year's Cup quarter-finals 32-29.

- It was a tight match that we won in the last five minutes. We said before the match that it would be good to have as many counters as possible, but we were surprised by the distance they covered. We should avoid this today - said young Rasmussen for the club's website. 

- We know it will be a tough game and if we want to win it we have to stop their counters. We have to be 100 % ready, but of course our chances are solid.

Not only does Hansen's injury make the attack weaker, but it weakens the defense as well, because he is a part of all defensive systems used by Veje Rasmussen - 6-0, 3-2-1, and 5-1.

- The others have to take over, they did so in the last quarter against Mors. We did good and we had an important win. Right now we are brimming with confidence - said Hansen.

- You usually should win against the league newcomers, but GOG have a special history and a very strong team. They won almost all games in League 2 and now have wins as well. This will be a tough job, unfortunately, with me on the stands.

Gog are also confident. They announced a Top 8 placements and have opened the season accordingly, beating Nordsjaelland away and Skanderborg at home.

- We had a relatively easy opening game was and a high-pressure game against Skanderborg. Arhus is one of the play-off candidates and they will test our strengths - said goalkeeper Kevin Møller.

- Rune Ohm was one of the league top-scorers last year at Sønderjyske, he's increbidlby dangerous. If we can slow him and their pivot Mads Lind down, we will accomplish  a lot. However, we can't escape their goalkeeper Tromle, who is probably the most experienced goalkeeper in the league and when he's on his best it is tough to score against him. We must hope that he isn't on one of his days - continued Møller for his club website.

- We have to admit that Arhus are favorites but we have a shot.

They beat Skandeborg in the last round, having lead the entire match and the guests coming to 23-23. GOG then put the game to bet with a run of 6-1. Two things were crucial then - their 6-0 defense which was mentioned a lot as they scored 13 goals from counters, and the introduction of Niclas Kirkeløkke, their cadet national team right back. The boy scored 8 goals. Since Arhus are without Hansen if they manage to stop Ohmm with this defense they will do a great job.

GOG could easily start without their first-team left back Kasper Jørgensen who is also the club manager (born in 1977). He has a left calf injury and has scored 1 goal until his injury, after which Kreutzman and Minik Dahl Høegh  took over (3 and 1 goals, respectively). Coach Jakob Larsen has many options and will be able to replace his oldest player.

Without Henrik Hansen, Arhus are not the same team, especially on the offense. This was clearly visible in the last weeks away game vs Mors after Hanssen's injury. They were leading 20-15 a that moment, and then took 11 goals in the last 15 minutes, to barely manage a win by a penalty in the end. GOG on the other hand are a strong defensive team, with an excellent 6-0 defense. In their first round away game they managed to reduce Nordsjealland to only 8 goals till halftime and 23 in full time. In their home game Skanderborg managed only 24. GOG scored 13 of their 29 from fast breaks, precisely due to their 6-0 defense. This will not be the case today, as Arhus are better than Skanderborg, but I do expect the home team to struggle offensively. The option for 26.5 on Arhus, which you can find in some betting houses, is interesting, but since GOG are not doing well themselves against a set-up zone defense, I'll go with 51.5. Arhus won their first home match 23-19 against Holstebra, another team with a strong defense.