EUROPA LEAGUE: Four star Midtjylland see off Derry

Derry City 1-4 Midtjylland
Derry City manager Kenny ShielsDerry City manager Kenny Shiels
Derry City manager Kenny Shiels

DERRY CITY'S Europa League adventure ended disappointingly with another heavy loss to Midtjylland.

The Danes' slick passing possession game for a second week running was too much for City to handle and but for some top draw saves by keeper Gerard Doherty, they would have loss by a bigger margin.

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City boss Kenny Shiels certainly had one eye on Sunday's league game against Sligo Rovers, as experienced striker Rory Patterson dropped to the bench with Lukas Schubert coming into the starting line-up.

Another man gaining European experience for the first time was young defender Scott Whiteside who started in place of the injury Aaron Barry.

Midtjylland boss Jess Thorup showed his intention for the game, despite leading 6-1 from the first leg, he decided to stick with the same side.

The visitors only needed seven minutes to take the lead.

A super break down the right ended with Andre Romer's centre finding an unmarked Paul Onuachu, who made no mistake firing low into Doherty's bottom right corner.

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Minutes later super play by Nathan Boyle ended with his centre flashing just in front of Schubert and Ronan Curtis' strike was blocked by defender Kristian Riis.

On 20 minutes Doherty was again called into action as Onuachu broke clear to latch onto Jakob Poulsen's pass, but his drive was saved by the City keeper.

Soon after Doherty raced out of his box to deny Simon Kroon, but the loose ball fell to Janus Drachmann and his attempted effort into the unguarded goal, sailed just wide.

Credit to City who went close to levelling things on 26 minutes but Curtis' well hit volley from the edge of the box, was saved by Midtjylland keeper Jesper Hansen.

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Doherty had to make another smart save on 37 minutes as Kroon, who netted a brace in the first leg, raced clear down the right, but his strike was saved by the City keeper.

From Poulsen's resulting corner City conceded a second.

The skipper's low delivery was fizzed into the near post and that man Onuachu made no mistake again, tucking the ball home with a smart finish.

City kept their heads up and pulled one back on 41 minutes as midfielder Aaron McEneff picked up a loose ball before racing into the visitor's penalty box and coolly side footing home past Hansen, to give the large travelling support something to cheer about.

Early in the second half danger man Kroon raced clear down the left, skipping away from Harry Monaghan, but his shot was superbly saved by Doherty.

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Minutes later a fantastic right wing run by Poulsen ended with his fantastic cross finding Onuachu but his shot on the stretch was somehow kept out by Doherty and Tim Sparv fired the loose ball wide.

On 55 minutes another Poulsen free-kick caught out City, but Onuachu's header flew well wide.

Midtjylland added a third on 59 minutes as substitute Gustav Wikheim with his first touch latched onto Onuachu's pass, before seeing his left footed strike beat Doherty, despite the keeper's best efforts.

Wikheim slotted in well down the left and his clever pass on 69 minutes found Onuachu inside the six yard box and the big striker made no mistake, side footing home to complete his hat-trick.

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Sparv was inches away from scoring a fifth on 85 minutes but the Finnish international saw his left footed long range strike superbly kept out by an over worked Doherty.

Derry City: G Doherty, Monaghan, Whiteside (Todd 71), Jarvis, B Doherty; Schubert, McEneff, Low, Holden (Timlin 76), Curtis; Boyle (Patterson 62).

Midtjylland: J Hansen, Romer (Nissen 70), Riis (K Hansen HT), Korcsmar, Dal Hende; Sparv; Drachmann, Poulsen; Kroon (Wikheim 58), Onuachu, Hassan.

Referee: Mr Rade Obrenovic (Slovenia).