HERNING, Denmark (Interstat) — Frederic Soelle scored in the 42nd minute and visiting St. Truiden made the lone goal stand in a 1-0 victory over Midtjylland at MCH Arena in Herning. Robert Jan Vanwesemael set up the goal with an assist, and the visitors defended their lead through the second half. Soelle played 72 minutes before he was substituted. Vanwesemael was booked in the 11th minute, the first of three yellow cards. Midtjylland’s Bravo was cautioned in the 22nd minute, and St. Truiden’s Sebaoui received a yellow card in the 59th minute. The decisive moment came shortly before halftime, when Vanwesemael helped create the opening for Soelle to score. Midtjylland, the home side, made three changes at halftime, including Bravo, and tried to increase pressure after the break. St. Truiden’s back line and goalkeeper kept the hosts from finding an equalizer, and the visitors closed out the match with the narrow advantage intact. The goal came after St. Truiden pushed forward late in the first half, and it proved enough on a afternoon when clear chances were limited. Midtjylland’s best chances came after the break, but the home side could not convert them.

The result moved St. Truiden to 2-0 in the competition and 5-4-2 across all competitions. Midtjylland fell to 0-1-1 in the competition and 13-3-7 overall. St. Truiden entered the match after a 4-1 home win over Lommel SK and a 2-0 home victory against Iberia 1999. Midtjylland had beaten Viborg 2-1 and drawn 1-1 with Egnatia in its previous two matches. The visitors’ recent form included a 3-4 loss at KV Mechelen and a 0-2 loss at W-Beveren, but they found the defensive resolve needed to protect Soelle’s goal. Midtjylland had scored regularly in recent weeks, including a 2-1 win over FC Copenhagen and a 7-0 win at Sundby BK, but could not solve St. Truiden after conceding before the break. St. Truiden also had a 3-3 draw at Cercle Brugge and a 1-1 home draw with Lommel SK earlier in the season. Midtjylland’s overall record includes a 1-1 draw at Odense and a 2-2 draw with Nordsjaelland. Those results underlined the contrasting form lines, but the competition table was changed by Soelle’s first-half finish.

Midtjylland made further substitutions in the second half, with Martinez entering in the 69th minute and Emefile in the 79th. St. Truiden replaced Merlen and Soelle in the 72nd minute, then brought on Mbuku and Pupe in the 85th. Vanwesemael was substituted four minutes into stoppage time. Soelle’s 72-minute outing included the game’s only goal, while Vanwesemael’s assist and yellow card were among the key contributions for the visitors. St. Truiden’s Sebaoui played through his caution and remained part of the side’s effort to preserve the lead. Midtjylland’s Bravo, booked early, was among the players changed at halftime as the hosts sought a different attacking approach. The second-half substitutions gave Midtjylland fresh legs, but St. Truiden maintained its shape and limited clear chances in the final third. Midtjylland also changed Rajovic and Hong Hyun-Seok at the break, while Martinez’s introduction in the 69th minute added another attacking option. St. Truiden’s late changes helped slow the pace and keep the ball away from its penalty area. Vanwesemael’s stoppage-time exit came after he had helped St. Truiden withstand Midtjylland’s closing push. Midtjylland pushed for a late equalizer, but St. Truiden cleared several deliveries and held possession in the final minutes. The final whistle confirmed the visitors’ clean sheet.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of St. Truiden 2, Midtjylland 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Midtjylland with a 94.8 percent probability to win. Midtjylland had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 3.25.