Aalborg vs Viborg

Viborg struck first inside ten minutes. Srdjan Kuzmic burst down the right and delivered a low cross that Magnus Olsen turned in at the near post to give the visitors an early advantage.

AaB responded well. Andres Jasson tested the goalkeeper from range early on, and Brian Nwadike thought he had equalised in the 20th minute with a header from Marc Nielsen's cross, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by the Japanese striker.

Charly Nouck then had a clear chance for Viborg, lifting the ball over Vincent Müller, only for Elison Makolli to make a goal-line clearance, crashing into the post in the process.

Kaasa levelled matters in the 41st minute. A well-worked move ended with the Norwegian unleashing a shot from distance that took a deflection and looped into the net past Kasper Kiilerich.

Aalborg made three changes at the break — William Thomsen, Kelvin John and Rody de Boer entering the fray — and the impact was immediate. Thomsen, in particular, proved influential.

Four minutes into the second half, Thomsen drove down the flank and delivered a cross to the edge of the box, where Kaasa met it with a crisp first-time finish to make it 2-1.

Three minutes later, Kaasa turned provider. The midfielder carried the ball forward, drove into the box and laid it across goal for Nwadike, who bundled it over the line from close range to make it 3-1.

Viborg pushed for a way back. Adam Kleis-Kristoffersen and Jeppe Grønning both had half-chances, and Asker Beck rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort in the 80th minute. AaB goalkeeper Rody de Boer also denied Bilal Brahimi with a save moments after the restart.

Aalborg rotated heavily — making nine substitutions in total during the match — while Viborg changed their entire outfield XI at half-time, making this very much a fitness exercise for both sides.

William Thomsen's introduction at half-time shifted the dynamic. The wide player's direct running and precise delivery for Kaasa's 50th-minute winner turned a 1-1 contest into a 2-1 lead inside five second-half minutes, and AaB never looked back.

• Markus Kaasa (Aalborg) — The Norwegian midfielder was the match-winner with two goals and the assist for Nwadike's third. His 41st-minute equaliser came at a crucial moment just before half-time, and his 50th-minute strike was a classy first-time finish. Named player of the match.
• William Thomsen (Aalborg) — Introduced at half-time, his assist for Kaasa's second goal changed the complexion of the game after just four minutes.
• Brian Nwadike (Aalborg) — After having a goal disallowed early on, the Japanese striker kept his composure and was in the right place to score AaB's third from close range.
• Magnus Olsen (Viborg) — Scored the opener and led the line well before being substituted in the 28th minute.

This was very much a pre-season friendly with extensive rotation — AaB made nine substitutions and Viborg effectively fielded two entirely different XIs across the two halves. Viborg's early goal came from their first real attack, but AaB dominated large periods after conceding. The three second-half goals in a seven-minute burst (50', 53') suggest AaB's sharpness in transition once Thomsen entered the game. AaB's goal-line clearance from Makolli in the first half was arguably as important as any goal, keeping the score at 1-0 when Viborg were on top.

For Aalborg, this is a promising start to pre-season under head coach Steffen Højer. The side showed resilience to overturn an early deficit and played with growing confidence as the match wore on. AaB's next test is against Randers FC on Wednesday 8 July at 12:00, also at Hornevej.

Viborg will have learned little about their full-strength XI given the wholesale half-time changes, but a competitive run-out against Superliga opposition serves its purpose at this stage of pre-season.

A deserved win for Aalborg in a friendly that served its purpose for both sides. Kaasa's all-round display — two goals and an assist — suggests he could be a key figure for AaB in the coming season, while Thomsen's impact off the bench will encourage Højer. Viborg will take positives from a bright opening 40 minutes but will want more sharpness in the final third.