HJK succeeded in a rare trick and advanced to the group stage of the Europa League – head coach Koskela hopes to face his fan favorite Manchester United

Helsinki Football Club pulled off a rare trick for Finns on Thursday night, when it fought to a 1-1 draw away from Silkeborg of Denmark in the Europa League qualifying match. The teams’ opening meeting in Töölö ended with HJK winning 1–0, so HJK advanced to the Europa League group stage with 2–1 on aggregate.

Previously, a Finnish team has been seen in the group stage of the Europa League only once before, when HJK succeeded in the same trick in the 2014–2015 season.

The match itself progressed under the control of the Danish team: the home team controlled the ball and took the goal posts 14–4.

Sebastian Jörgensen hit the back post in the 24th minute, but the home team couldn’t get any closer. Despite Silkeborg’s control, the guests managed to score the opening goal at 40 minutes: Aapo Halme opened a long cross to the surface of the center line of the pitch To Malikwho took advantage of the Silkeborg keeper by Nicolai Larsen adventures far from the finish line.

The Ghanaian striker, who is on loan from Malmö FF in HJK, surprised the home crowd and put HJK in the lead with his long-range shot. The visitors went into the break with a 1–0 lead.

In the second period, the home team continued their rampage and frantically searched for an equalizing goal, with around 8,000 spectators cheering on. Silkeborg deservedly got their goal in the 75th minute, when Joel Felix flashed the ball into the net from close range.

However, a draw was not enough for the Danes, as HJK had won the opening match in Helsinki. The avalanche with the HJK goal continued. Even in extra time, Silkeborg had a couple of excellent goal chances, but the sens were on the side of the Helsinki team. The defensive battle ended in a 1-1 draw after 94 minutes, which meant that the Danish games continued in the Conference League.

– We played against a really good team today. We were deep for long moments, close to our own goal and on the bridge, but sometimes you have to suffer. They had some space, but we were able to defend well enough. This is an insane performance, playing in the European League has not been made terribly easy, you have to win three matches, Koskela commented to Urheilu.

In particular, Malik’s lead goal garnered praise from the head coach.

– Veskari played a lot outside for quite long periods. An incredible performance between a couple of top players to take the ball and put it in half the field. Great performance from Malik!

HJK’s European games didn’t start rosy, as the team made its way through the first qualifying round of the Champions League only with difficulty against Latvia’s Rigas. The final spot came off in the end after a penalty shootout. However, in the second round, the Czech Viktoria Plzen proved to be an impossible opponent, and the Czechs won the match with a combined score of 7–1.

HJK continued in the Europa League qualifiers at the beginning of August, where they first defeated Maribor 3–0 on aggregate.

A place in the group stage brings HJK more than three and a half million euros in prize money. Among the possible opponents are real big names, as their places in the Europa League group stage have ensured that Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United, who have been targeted so far, Arsenal, who shot to the top of the Premier League, Jose Mourinho’s piloted by AS Roma as By Maurizio Sarri also coached by Lazio.

HJK pilot Koskela has one wish above all others, who he would like the club to face.

– I have been a big ManU fan for a long time. Of course, it would be sweet if ManU came from there. At the same time, of course, it’s sad for the fan. Manchester United is a club that one would hope would play in the Champions League, Koskela concluded.

The Europa League groups will be drawn on Friday. The group stage of the Europa League starts on September 8.