LIVESTREAM: Denmark’s Semifinals – Aarhus Tigers @Copenhagen Towers Sat. Sept. 23, 2p CEST (8a EDT)

AFI | Aarhus Tigers | 09/23/2017

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Copenhagen Towers will play host to the Aarhus Tigers in Denmark’s semifinals Saturday Sept. 23 at Gentofte Sportspark in Copenhagen.

The Towers finished the regular season on top of the league standings with a 9-1 record earning a bye into the semifinals while Aarhus with a 6-4 record had to play a wild card game to qualify.

On paper it would seem that the Towers are the heavy favorites with the best offense and defense in Denmark this year. Copenhagen averaged 39.9 points a game while giving up only 10. The Tigers by comparison averaged 31.2 points a game on offense and surrendered 16.4. But in the only meeting between the two a month ago, although Copenhagen came away the winners, it was a hard fought 14-8 victory.

Tigers head coach Thomas Pedersen concedes that Copenhagen are the favorites:

“They became number one in the regular season, so they are definitely favorites,”

Nevertheless, Towers head coach Peter Rebild is full of respect for the Tigers:

“We have focused on shutting down their best players. The Tigers have good players in all positions. They may not have the deepest team, but they have quality everywhere on the field. The key is to address those players. Their absolute best player is Timmi Rysgaard. He is one of Denmark’s best defenders. At the same time, their quarterback Jacob Karkov also has the qualities to hurt you when he is on track.”

Players to watch

Running back and kick returner Dayton Winn has been a force for the Towers in 2017 and is the league’s MVP according to Pedersen, while Tigers running back Lasse Lykke has to be contained says Rebild.