Silkeborg IF’s European campaign faced a setback as they drew 1-1 at home against Icelandic side Akureyri in the second qualifying round of the Conference League. The match took place on Wednesday evening.

Despite being the favorites, the Danish team struggled to capitalize on their dominance. Silkeborg controlled much of the game but lacked the necessary precision in front of goal. Akureyri capitalized on this, securing a late equalizer in added time.

Silkeborg coach Kent Nielsen expressed his disappointment, stating that the team felt they had a significant opportunity to win. He noted the classic football scenario where missed chances can lead to such outcomes. Nielsen emphasized the difficulty of breaking down a team that defends deeply, referring to FC Copenhagen’s recent match against FC Drita from Kosovo, where they managed a 2-0 victory.

Akureyri spent the majority of the match defending in their own half, which challenged Silkeborg to find creative solutions to penetrate the Icelandic defense. Nielsen highlighted the importance of solid defense and capitalizing on limited opportunities, admitting that Silkeborg fell short in these areas.

The return match is scheduled to take place in Iceland on July 31.