FC Nordsjaelland are making themselves right at home in Northern Ireland.

The Danish outfit have qualified for today’s Junior Section semi-finals at their first ever Milk Cup, but were pushed all the way by County Antrim yesterday in their final group game.

Viktor Damgaard gave the Danes an early lead but Antrim’s Rory Hale was brought down inside the box and dusted himself off to level from the spot and secure a 1-1 draw.

Head Coach Flemming Pedersen said afterwards: “We had a goal to get into the top four when we left Denmark and we are very pleased to achieve that.

“We’re not totally happy with the level of our play, but we are pleased with the result.

“We didn’t know what to expect before we came as it is our first time, but we are excited about the level of our opponents here.

“In Denmark we were one of the best teams, so we have to make it our ambition to be in the top four.

“It is a big bonus to play teams from different parts of the world and the players are excited to play and meet teams who play a little different from teams in Denmark.”

They will go on face Cruz Azul in the last four, the Mexicans having recorded the biggest win of the Junior Section so far with a 5-0 victory over Dundalk in Portrush.

Nestor Valle and Roger Solis hit two goals each, while Luis Flores bagged the other.

Azul boss Hugo Santana Paez said he had high hopes coming into the competition and entered the semi-finals in confident mood.

“We have come here to win and we want to make the final this year,” Paez revealed. “When we came last year we were a year younger than our age group and we have come back with the same players, a year older now.”

Everton won the all-English affair at the University pitches when they defeated Swindon Town 2-0 thanks to centre half Kyle Scarisbrick’s second of the tournament and Oliver Crowley’s neat finish.

That set up a semi-final clash with Ipswich, the other side in the Junior draw who completed a 100% record for the group stage, with a 2-0 win over Queen of the South at the Warren in Portstewart.

County Tyrone bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Reading with a 4-0 win against US outfit, South Coast Strikers.

Niall Coyle got two, while Liam Donnelly and Mark McConnell were also among the goals.

Armagh remain unbeaten and recorded their first win, against Revo Express, in Limavady, thanks to goals from Caolan Skelton and Shane McNamee.