Cho Gue-sung gets one last assist as Midtjylland lift Superliga trophy

FC Midtjylland's players celebrate winning the Danish Superliga trophy at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark on Sunday. Cho Gue-sung, right, pops a champagne bottle. [AP/YONHAP]

FC Midtjylland locked in the 2023-24 Danish Superliga title after their 3-3 draw against Silkeborg IF on Sunday, edging out No. 2 Brondby by one point, with striker Cho Gue-sung recording an assist in the game to earn his first piece of European silverware in his debut season abroad.

Midtjylland and Brondby were tied going into their final games of the season on Sunday, with Brondby edging out Midtjylland on goal difference. But Brondby gave up a goal in the 78th minute and fell 3-2 to AGF in their season finale while Midtjylland scraped by with a draw.

Midtjylland got off to a messy start at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, conceding two goals within the first 26 minutes. That second goal counted as an unfortunate own goal by Midtjylland midfielder Oliver Sorenson, whose right foot served as a springboard for the ball, which got into the net just under the bar.

But the home side quickly turned things around after the break, Midtjylland striker Franculino Dju slotting in the ball from right in front of the net in the 46th minute thanks to a couple of passes from the left, Paulinho getting the assist.

Silkeborg barely had time to breathe before Midtjylland got the equalizer just two minutes later, midfielder Ola Brynhildesen shooting the ball into the top left corner thanks to a cross from Cho, who knocked the ball down the middle.

And Midtjylland still wasn’t letting Silkeborg breathe before they scored again, clinching the lead, with striker Aral Simsir, who was subbed onto the pitch after the break, making things 3-2 with another chance from the middle, the ball bouncing off the right corner and into the net thanks to midfielder Charles.

Silkeborg equalized in the 82nd minute after a corner by Tonni Adamsen, who got the ball to striker Callum McCowatt for the goal.

But Midtjylland held off the visitors until the very end to lock in the crucial one point, beating Brondby after a neck-and-neck title race, for their first league title since the 2019-20 season and a spot in the second round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.

Midtjylland’s win marked the first trophy in Europe for both of its Korean players, Cho and defender Lee Han-beom.

Cho, 26, who joined Midtjylland from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors last July after a breakout performance for Korea during the 2022 World Cup, has established himself as a regular pick up front, scoring 12 goals and recording three assists in the 2023-24 Danish Superliga as the league’s tied-fourth top scorer — and getting a goal in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Lee, 21, was not in Sunday’s squad and had not set foot on the pitch for a league game since playing six minutes in a clash with Copenhagen in March. But he’s still recorded one goal and two assists in just 98 minutes of playing time in the Superliga since joining the Danish club last August on a four-year contract from K League 1 side FC Seoul.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]