With the round of 16 matches successfully out of the way, Christian Cappis and Emmanuel Sabbi learned their next opponents for December’s Danish Cup quarterfinals.
Emmanuel Sabbi shot his way onto the scoring sheet for Odense in their dramatic 4-1 victory over fellow top-flight opponents Nordsjaelland on Wednesday night, netting the team’s third goal as they added three in added time after pulling even at one apiece in the last moments of regulation.
Their hard efforts are rewarded with a visit to reigning Cup holders Randers with a place in the semifinal on the line. Their opponents have had a better run of things so far in league play, however been largely untested in the cup, last beating lower league Middlefart on the road.
Despite starting in the midfield, Christian Cappis didn’t get on the scoreboard for Brøndby in their 3-0 road win over lower division IK Allborg Freja on Thursday, but the win was enough to land them a spot in the final eight against perhaps the toughest opponent possible in Midtjylland.
While Brøndby are indeed the most recent winners of the Danish Superliga, Midtjylland are without a doubt the runaway favorites this season, already with a commanding lead atop the table. They did need added time before defeating Aalborg BK in their most recent cup outing on Thursday, but will undoubtedly be favorites when they visit Cappis and his teammates in December.
Finally, first-year, Chicago-born attacker Atu Galadima has recently begun to see the field for second-division Kolding IF, and could play a role for their daunting visit to Vejle.
While playing a team two divisions above them will certainly make them the Cinderella story of the round, they perhaps lucked out as Vejle are dead-last in the top-flight and looking headed for a sure relegation.
Kolding already knocked off second-tier Nykøbing in the previous round on penalties, and will be eager to continue their unlikely run into next spring’s semifinal round.
The games are set to take place in early-December, just after league play in Denmark has begun its winter break.
Danish Cup second-round draw
Randers FC – Odense BK (Emmanuel Sabbi)
SønderjyskE – Hvidovre IF
Vejle BK – Kolding IF (Atu Galadima)
Brøndby IF (Christian Cappis) – FC Midtjylland
