[tab:Match report]
Motherwell’s Europa League campaign came to a frustrating end as Odense completed an aggregate victory at Fir Park.
The Steelmen dominated the second-leg of the play-off and created numerous chances but the Danes held firm to progress to the group stages.
Peter Utaka netted the only goal of the game on 28 minutes to put Odense through 3-1 on aggregate.
They finished with just nine-men after Espen Ruud and Anders Christensen were sent-off in the closing stages.
Jamie Murphy then missed a penalty as the Steelmen bowed out of the competition.
Craig Brown named an attacking line-up for the second-leg, including Murphy, Nick Blackman and John Sutton in the starting eleven for the first time.
And the latter almost gave the Steelmen a dream start when he shot narrowly wide after only three minutes.
Many of the 9,105 crowd thought Sutton had scored but the angle was against him and the ball went into the side netting.
Motherwell kept the pressure on in the opening stages and Chris Humphrey wasted a good chance moments later, slicing wide at the far post.
Tom Hateley then tested Roy Carroll with a low free-kick after Blackman was fouled on the edge of the area.
Murphy went close to breaking the deadlock on 26 minutes when he latched on to a Blackman flick and lobbed the advancing Carroll. Once again a goal looked on the cards but the ball dropped agonisingly wide of the target..
The Steelmen were then hit with a sucker punch as Odense took the lead against the run of play.
Utaka was the man to get the goal for the Danes, lashing the ball home from 10 yards after a Ruud corner was only partially cleared.
But Motherwell responded well to falling behind and they resumed control of the match.
The Odense back-four were under pressure and Anders Christensen almost headed a Humphrey cross into his own net.
Blackman then rose highest to meet the resulting corner but his header went just over the bar.
And on the stroke of half-time, Sutton diverted a Murphy cross towards goal only to be denied by Carroll.
Motherwell picked up where they left off after the break and Saunders threatened twice in quick succession from Hateley and Humphrey crosses.
The Steelmen just weren’t getting the breaks inside the box and they could have easily had a penalty when Sutton was held back by Andreasen.
At the other end, Eric Djemba-Djemba drove wide from distance and Utaka had a shot blocked but Darren Randolph was rarely called upon.
Carroll was the busier of the two goalkeepers and he made a good save on the hour-mark to keep out a Blackman shot from 20 yards.
He then blocked a Blackman header at the far post, although the striker really ought to have scored given the space and time he had inside the box.
Yet another chance went begging moments later when Humphrey beat his man and delivered a cross but neither Murphy or Blackman could apply a finishing touch.
Odense were reduced to ten-men with 15 minutes remaining when Ruud received his marching orders for a second-bookable offence.
This gave Motherwell further encouragement and they piled more bodies forward in search of an equaliser.
They were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute when Christensen handled a cross inside the box. The defender was sent-off, following his team-mate Ruud up the tunnel.
But Murphy saw his spot-kick come back off the post and Saunders’ rebound was saved by Carroll as Odense somehow held on.
[tab:As it happened]
90+4′ FULL-TIME The referee blows the full-time whistle.
90+3′ Blackman (Motherwell) misses the target.
90+3′ Traore (OB) commits a foul after challenging Hateley (Motherwell).
90′ Reynolds (Motherwell) misses the target.
88′ SUB Kadrii (OB) takes the place of Utaka.
87′ Murphy (Motherwell) misses from the penalty spot, hitting the right-hand post.
85′ RED CARD Christensen (OB) is dismissed.
85′ BOOKING Christensen (OB) is cautioned by the referee.
85′ Christensen (OB) is penalised for handball inside the box. Penalty awarded to Motherwell.
83′ Sutton (Motherwell) commits a foul after challenging Andreasen (OB).
83′ Randolph (Motherwell) makes a save.
83′ Djemba-Djemba (OB) has an effort on goal.
80′ Humphrey (Motherwell) takes the corner.
79′ Sutton (Motherwell) commits a foul after challenging Djemba-Djemba (OB).
76′ Murphy (Motherwell) misses the target.
76′ Blackman (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
76′ Hammell (Motherwell) takes the free-kick.
75′ BOOKING Djemba-Djemba (OB) is shown a yellow card for dissent.
75′ RED CARD Ruud (OB) is given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
75′ BOOKING Ruud (OB) is shown a yellow card.
75′ Ruud (OB) commits a foul after challenging Blackman (Motherwell).
74′ Humphrey (Motherwell) takes the corner.
72′ Carroll (OB) makes a save.
72′ Blackman (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
71′ Ruud (OB) commits a foul after challenging Blackman (Motherwell).
69′ Carroll (OB) makes a save.
69′ Blackman (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
66′ SUB Demba-Nyren (OB) comes on for Toft.
66′ Utaka (OB) has an effort on goal.
64′ Hammell (Motherwell) takes the free-kick.
64′ Traore(OB) commits a foul after challenging Lasley (Motherwell).
61′ Hateley (Motherwell) takes the free-kick.
61′ Christensen (OB) commits a foul after challenging Blackman (Motherwell).
60′ Carroll (OB) makes a save.
60′ Blackman (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
59′ BOOKING Lasley (Motherwell) is cautioned by the referee.
59′ Lasley (Motherwell) commits a foul after challenging Djemba-Djemba (OB).
58′ Hateley (Motherwell) takes the corner.
58′ Djemba-Djemba (OB) misses the target.
57′ Djemba-Djemba (OB) commits a foul after challenging Murphy (Motherwell).
57′ Sorensen (OB) takes the free-kick.
56′ Hammell (Motherwell) commits a foul after challenging Toft (OB).
55′ Hateley (Motherwell) takes the corner.
55′ Carroll (OB) makes a save.
55′ Hateley (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
55′ Hateley (Motherwell) takes the free-kick.
54′ Djemba-Djemba (OB) commits a foul after challenging Blackman (Motherwell).
53′ SUB Johansson (OB) replaces Haland.
52′ Ruud (OB) takes the corner.
52′ Ruud (OB) takes the free-kick.
51′ BOOKING Saunders (Motherwell) is booked.
51′ Saunders (Motherwell) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Gislason (OB).
50′ Carroll (OB) makes a save.
50′ Humphrey (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
49′ Hammell (Motherwell) takes the free-kick.
48′ Djemba-Djemba (OB) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Sutton (Motherwell).
48′ Toft (OB) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
46′ KICK-OFF The second-half begins.
45+1′ HALF-TIME The referee blows for half-time.
45+1′ Carroll (OB) makes a save.
45+1′ Sutton (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
45′ Haland (OB) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Blackman (Motherwell).
43′ BOOKING Hateley (Motherwell) is booked.
43′ Hateley (Motherwell) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Gislason (OB).
41′ Lasley (Motherwell) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Andreasen (OB).
38′ Traore (OB) has an effort on goal.
38′ Hateley (Motherwell) delivers the corner.
36′ Utaka (OB) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
36′ Blackman (Motherwell) misses the target.
35′ Humphrey (Motherwell) delivers the corner.
34′ Andreasen (OB) has an effort on goal.
33′ Ruud (OB) delivers the corner.
32′ Sorensen (OB) has a shot blocked.
31′ Andreasen (OB) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Sutton (Motherwell).
29′ Hateley (Motherwell) misses the target.
28′ GOAL Utaka (OB) scores with a low shot from inside the box. Assist by Ruud.
28′ Ruud (OB) delivers the corner.
27′ Ruud (OB) takes the free-kick.
27′ Saunders (Motherwell) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Gislason (OB).
26′ Hateley (Motherwell) misses the target.
26′ Lasley (Motherwell) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Traore (OB).
23′ Hateley (Motherwell) takes the free-kick.
22′ BOOKING Christensen (OB) is booked.
22′ Christensen (OB) fouls.
21′ Carroll (OB) makes a save.
21′ Hateley (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
21′ Hateley (Motherwell) takes the free-kick.
21′ BOOKING Ruud (OB) is shown a yellow card.
21′ Ruud (OB) fouls.
17′ Andreasen (OB) has an effort on goal.
16′ Djemba-Djemba (OB) has a shot blocked.
13′ Carroll (OB) makes a save.
13′ Hateley (Motherwell) has an effort on goal.
12′ Hateley (Motherwell) takes the free-kick.
12′ Christensen (OB) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Blackman (Motherwell).
7′ Humphrey (Motherwell) misses the target.
5′ Humphrey (Motherwell) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Djemba-Djemba (OB).
4′ Hateley (Motherwell) delivers the corner.
3′ Sutton (Motherwell) misses the target.
1′ Humphrey (Motherwell) delivers the corner.
1′ KICK-OFF The match is under way.
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell boss Craig Brown:
“Over the two legs we should be the team going through. We were the fitter team, the better team, the more disciplined team and the better footballing side.
“I’m massively disappointed. I can’t fault the guys at all, we did everything we could and just didn’t get a break. If we showed the clinical finishing that we should have then perhaps we would have won the match.
“As soon as we missed the penalty, I felt it was gone. I feel sorry for Jamie Murphy. He has been a key player in the progress we have made in this Europa League. He has scored some vital goals for us.
“The penalty was probably the easiest chance, but it hit the post and that was our last chance gone, effectively.
“It’s particularly disappointing to end that way in front of our own fans. We feel quite upset because we had a very good support here tonight and we were so desperate to please them but that’s what happens in football.”
Odense manager Lars Olsen:
“I am delighted to be in the next round as it was a difficult tie for us. We were lucky on a few crosses into the box and lucky with the penalty.
“We are happy to go through but on the night we were lucky. Credit to Motherwell, they played very well and put us under a lot of pressure.
“I thought the sendings off were harsh but we defended well with nine-men.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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