Aussies Abroad: Mabil lifts FC Midtjylland's first Danish Cup, Nabbout nets first J-League goal

Awer Mabil netted a crucial spot-kick as FC Midtjylland lifted their Danish Cup curse following a penalty shootout victory over Brondby IF.

The Caltex Socceroo’s side finally wrote their names on to Denmark's DBU Pokalen trophy having been the beaten finalists four times, two of those occasions against the seven-time winners Brondby. 

(Header image courtesy of FC Midtjylland on Twitter)

WHERE TO WATCH: When are your Caltex Socceroos in action this weekend?
AUSSIES ABROAD: Vukovic celebrates title success in Belgium
GRANT v IKONOMIDIS: The Caltex Socceroos that could decide the 2019 Hyundai A-League Grand Final

How to Watch FIFA Women's World Cup 2019


With the third final meeting between these teams heading for a nail-biting finish, Mabil held his nerve from 12 yards to give the Wolves a 3-2 advantage after opposition midfielder Josip Radosevic saw his kick saved by gloveman Jesper Hansen.

Brondby’s Besar Halimi levelled the scores at 3-3 before Midtjylland defender Alexander Scholz converted the winning penalty to send Mabil and company into scenes of jubilation at Telia Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.

FCM had taken a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute of normal time when centre-back Kian Hansen struck but German midfielder Dominik Kaiser restored parity after 21 minutes and the scores remained locked at 1-1 through a 120-minute battle.

The 23-year-old, who has nine Caltex Socceroos caps to his name, then captured his first European silverware to add to his FFA Cup winners medal collected as an Adelaide United player in 2014.

Nabbout nets first goal for Urawa

A strong start ended up sour for Caltex Socceroos forward Andrew Nabbout in Urawa Red Diamonds’ 3-2 defeat against rivals Shonan Bellmare.

After Kazuki Nagasawa had fired the Reds in front on 22 minutes, Nabbout applied a precision finish to notch his first goal in 18 appearances for the J-League club.

However, the Melbourne-born forward was withdrawn following a collision on 40 minutes after Shonan were controversially denied a goal. Things then went from bad to worse for Urawa. 

Shunsuke Kikuchi pulled one back for Shonan on 47 minutes before the midfielder scored a second to pull the visitors level on 79 minutes. Miki Yamane then netted a last-minute winner to leave the 10th-placed Red Diamonds empty handed. 

Meanwhile, Caltex Socceroos goalkeeper Mitch Langerak and Nagoya Grampus Eight shared the points on the road against fellow J-League high-flyers Kawasaki Frontale.

Mateus had given the away side the advantage on the stroke of half time, but his Brazilian compatriot Leandro Damiao levelled the scores on 69 minutes. 

The draw leaves Nagoya second and Kawasaki third on the ladder, three and four points respectively behind leaders Tokyo FC.

Get Onside