Andreasen double revives Odense ambitions

Odense BK claimed their first points in Group H and moved within three of their second-placed opponents with a 2-0 success at home to BSC Young Boys.

Nothing less than a victory would do for Uffe Pedersen's side – celebrating their 50th game in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League – and they duly obliged with Hans Henrik Andreasen on target in either half to reignite their qualification hopes.

Odense, keen to banish memories of their 4-2 defeat in the reverse fixture, started quickly with Peter Utaka's shot deflected wide after he had cut inside Alain Nef. The Stripes did not have to wait long for their opener, however, Chris Sørensen sweeping in a 12th-minute free-kick and Andreasen escaping the attentions of Ammar Jemal to rifle in from six metres.

Vladimir Petković's charges had to wait 37 minutes for their first significant attempt to test Roy Carroll, Alberto Regazzoni firing across goal only for the custodian to expertly thrust his boot out to repel the effort.

Utaka was again frustrated by a last-ditch block as François Affolter atoned for a miscued header but Young Boys finished the half in the ascendancy with Thierry Doubai blazing over after Senad Lulić and Henri Bienvenu had combined and Moreno Costanzo curling onto the roof of net.

The second half saw the recommencement of Utaka's quest for a goal but again his efforts were thwarted as Roman Bürki saved after the striker had bustled his way into the box.

The YB goalkeeper was powerless, though, as Andreasen whipped his 25-metre free-kick over the wall and inside the near post to make it 2-0 on the hour, with the Swiss side unable to muster any worthwhile attempts to reduce the deficit in the later stages.