Hateley (far left) gave Motherwell hope of reaching the group stages

By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland in Denmark

Tom Hateley's last-gasp strike boosted Motherwell's chances of reaching the Europa League group stages, despite a rather harsh defeat to Odense BK.

Chris Sorensen's free kick evaded everyone to give the Danes the lead.

Motherwell still looked comfortable but were undone with 12 minutes to go by the pace of Peter Utaka, who broke away to score a terrific solo goal.

Steve Jennings was sent off for the visitors but Hateley's free-kick registered a crucial away goal.

Having eliminated Breidablik and Aalesund in the previous rounds, Motherwell were aiming to extend their four-match unbeaten run in the tournament.

And they were presented with a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring inside the first 60 seconds when slackness from Espen Ruud allowed Jamie Murphy a sight of goal, but the striker dragged his shot just wide of the target.

Within a couple of minutes though, Odense should have been in front. Sorensen swung in a ball from the left, met by the head of Alte Haaland, but the defender's effort flew inches over.

Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph was called into action for the first time midway through the first half when Johan Absalonsen was allowed space to turn and fire in a powerful shot from 10 yards, but the stopper was well positioned to push it away.

Hateley flashed a free kick just wide of Roy Carroll's right-hand post, but it was from a set piece at the other end that the home side broke the deadlock.

Sorensen whipped the ball in from the right and, though no-one could get on the end of the full-back's delivery, it slipped past Randolph and nestled in the back of the net.

Odense captain Sorensen (right) gave the home side the lead

Motherwell consolidated well, however, and though they were unable to trouble Roy Carroll, Randolph was similarly unperturbed for the remainder of the first half.

But he was scrambling just a couple of minutes into the second period when Rurik Gislason cut in from the right to flash a shot across goal, but fortunately for Motherwell it flew a yard wide.

Odense had shown signs of slackness in defence early in the match and they did so again when Alte Haaland was short with a headed passback, forcing Carroll into a diving punch to clear, and Murphy was unable to pick up on the scraps.

John Sutton's aerial prowess was causing the Danish defence a few problems and he beat his marker to a Saunders cross to test Carroll, who got down well to his near post to save.

Motherwell, if anything, were having marginally the better of the game and could consider themselves unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty with just under 20 minutes remaining.

Murphy went down under the challenge of Ruud, but to the disgust of the striker, the referee waved play on.

That decision took on even greater significance when, on 78 minutes, Utaka's pace took him clear of the Motherwell defence. He remained composed as he took the ball round Randolph, and though three defenders had got back onto the line, the Nigerian hammered the ball high into the net from 12 yards.

Three minutes from time, Motherwell's woes were added to when Jennings was ordered off for his second booking of the evening, but then came Hateley's intervention.

He hit one effort straight at Carroll, but the referee ordered a retake having spotted something amiss in the box.

Hateley took full advantage as he curled a peach of a strike into Carroll's top corner, to set up a fascinating match next Thursday at Fir Park.

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