Bisgard: 'Football can be cruel' after U19s defeat in Youth League quarters

F.C. Copenhagen's U19s head coach Morten Bisgaard says he is proud of the team after their lost on penalties to FC Nantes in the UEFA Youth league quarter-finals on Tuesday afternoon.

The Young Lions battled with 10 men for an hour to secure a 3-3 draw after 90 minutes, which led to the game going straight to spot kicks.

Tristan Andrew, William Glindtvad and Aksel Halsgaard sadly had their efforts saved as the hosts progressed 5-4 on penalties.

"It is of course a huge disappointment for all of us right here after such a game," says Bisgaard.

"We feel that a semi-final was taken away from us, because we totally dominated the match for the first 35 minutes. We scored some great goals and had good control of everything.

"But the red card for Cornelius Olsson changed the picture. He didn't think it was a red card himself, and neither did the teammates who were standing right around him, but what happened is what happened."

Nantes took the lead 12 minutes in through Dehmaine Assoumani, only for FCK to hit back fast through Emil Højlund's penalty, and goals for Hunor Vajk Nemeth and Amin Chiakha. However, Olsson then saw red a minute after the Young Lions had gone 3-1 up.

FCK folakeeper Oscar Gadeberg-Buur then saved a penalty in first-half stoppage time but, despite battling on, eventually Nantes made their one-man advantage count with two goals after the break.

Reflecting on the shoot-out and the overall performance, Bisgaard adds: "Oscar saved us once again with the penalty just before half time, but they got two somewhat random goals in the second half. It ended in a penalty shootout, where anything can happen, and we had the chance to win the game.

“We feel that we were the better team, but they were the ones who won. But okay, we were also lucky in Zilina to progress. When we went 3-1 up I really thought that this could be really good. The sending off changed the game, but all in all the boys are doing fantastically well. Not everything was perfect, but we were so close.

“It gives me courage to do more. We've had a fantastic journey in the Youth League, so when we've come home and put the disappointment behind us, we have to do everything we can to win the U19 league so that next season we can also play in Europe and get more of the experience that is so important for us to train players for the first team."