Glens grab draw in Denmark

New boy Mark Glendinning was on the ball with equaliser

FC Midjylland 1-1 Glentoran

New boy Mark Glendinning was the hero for Glentoran as they grabbed a share of the spoils in their Uefa Cup qualifying tie against FC Midjylland.

The Glens were pulverised in the first half but managed to restrict the Danish side to 15th minute goal by Ghanian international Razar Pimpong.

The Belfast side were under the cosh again on the restart, but in stepped former Lurgan Blues favourite Glendinning with an 83rd minute equaliser to stun the Danes.

Goal-king Glendinning said: ''The players worked hard and I thought we deserved a draw.

''We played some good football in the second period.''

Disappointed

FC Midjylland looked set to win by a landslide as they peppered the Glens goal in the first 45 minutes.

The Belfast boys received a let off in the sixth minute when Morten Skoubo rattled the post.

But they fell behind to a rasping shot by Pimpong, although Goalkeeper Alan Gough will be disappointed he did not stop the effort.

However, Gough redeemed himself with a string of excellent saves, one in particular a spectacular effort to prevent the Danish side from surging further ahead.

The Glentoran attack had little opportunity to shine with the midfield over-run by their more fluent opposition.

But the Glens tightened up considerably on the restart, and with a more competitive performance that made the Danes fight for every ball.

In all the Glens had only two real shots at goal, with Glendinning picking up the one that mattered.

We just got in among them

Gary Smyth

His late strike now sets-up Glentoran with a genuine chance of progressing into first round proper with the return leg at The Oval on 23 August.

Because the game is an all-seated affair, it has been restricted to a capacity 6,000 crowd.

Glens defender Gary Smyth was a tired player after the game following his non-stop performance.

''We just got in among them,'' he said.

''We really ruffled them a bit after a real struggle in the first half.

''Hopefully this will give us a bit of belief for the second leg.

''They will start thinking that it is not going to be as easy as they miagine it would.''