RILWAN HASSAN Hopeful Of Overturning First Leg Deficit

Danish club FC Midtjylland featuring four Nigerians in the starting eleven lost at home 0 - 3 to Young Boys in the Europa League on Thursday night.

There was disharmony in the Wolves team following the dismissal of substitute Morten Nicolas Rasmussen with 18 minutes of normal time left, a contentious decision by match referee Maxim  Layushkin.

With a man short, FCM conceded two late goals, and they now have a mountain to climb when the reverse fixture is played next week in Switzerland.

Nigerian winger Rilwan Hassan, who missed the last two games played by FC Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga due to a hamstring complaint, passed a fitness test before the match and was immediately restored to the first team by coach Glen Riddarholmen.

''We controlled the game throughout but we lost concentration after one of our players was sent off. There's still at least 90 minutes of the game to be played. Hopefully, in the second leg we can reverse the result. It is not impossible, we just have to have belief. Playing away, FCM have won against very strong opposition before when we beat Manchester City (1 - 0, ed) four years ago in the same competition,'' says Rilwan Hassan to allnigeriasoccer.com.

Adds the former FC Ebedei whizkid: '' I am really happy I got to play on Thursday. It is always a privilege playing in a European competition. The Danish championship is not on television back home in Nigeria. So it will be very good for the team to qualify for the group stage to enable our families and friends in Nigeria watch our matches.''

Rilwan Hassan will play his 5th game in the Danish championship if he is not rested by coach Glen Riddarholmen for Sunday's home game with Adeola Runsewe's Silkeborg .