Brondby - 1-2 FC Midtjylland
After AGF was left to settle for a 1-1 draw on Friday against FC Nordsjaelland, FC Midtjylland had the chance to narrow the gap to the Danish Superliga league leaders when they faced Brondby on away turf in Copenhagen.
The match turned into a pure fight with many physical battles rather than a match with many excellent creative displays. But Mike Tullberg's men managed to edge ahead after 61 minutes when Franculino, who got his second start after a lengthy injury layoff, converted a penalty after a pass from Aral Simsir had touched Ben Godfrey's hand inside the box.
The Jutland visitors then doubled the lead nine minutes from the end when Bartosz Slisz was unfortunate to direct the ball into his own net after Martin Erlic had flicked on a corner. Ousmane Diao subsequently mocked Slisz after the goal and was sent off for his second bookable offence.
Brondby did manage to restore the excitement in the match deep into injury time when Nicolai Vallys converted a penalty after Kevin Mbabu had elbowed Benjamin Tahirović in the box, but the visitors held on for the win in a very dramatic end to the match.
Sonderjyske 0-2 Viborg
In Sunday's other match in the Danish Championship playoffs, Viborg secured a vital 2-0 win away against Sonderjyske in a direct duel between the two challengers for the third spot in the league.
The Jutland visitors thought they had taken the lead when Zan Zaletel scored with a strong header in the first half, but the goal was subsequently ruled off after a lengthy VAR-check.
However, three minutes after the interval, Viborg opened the score when Lukas Kirkegaard rose high to head the ball powerfully past a helpless Sonderjyske keeper, Marcus Bundgaard, into the net. Bundgaard was later stretchered off and taken to hospital after a hard collision with Viborg's Dorian Hanza.
Yowards the end Tobias Sommer came close to restoring parity for the home side, but Lucas Lund produced a strong reflex save to preserve the Viborg lead. And in injury time, Osman Addo then made the three points with a strong finish after a Sonderjyske defensive blunder.