The Nordic Storm edged Rhein Fire 28-23 in a back-and-forth European League of Football Wild Card clash at Gladsaxe Stadium in Copenhagen, advancing to their first semifinal in franchise history while ending the Fire’s bid for a three-peat. Quarterback Jadrian Clark’s 309-yard, three-touchdown masterclass propelled the Storm in a game defined by razor-thin margins and playoff intensity.
Early fireworks set the tone
Both teams traded touchdowns on their opening drives, with Rhein striking first via a 13-yard run by Jalen Scott. Nordic answered immediately, as Clark connected with Hugo Kwofie for a 12-yard score. Defenses tightened thereafter, holding the 7-7 stalemate until the second quarter. Fire kicker Tobias Goebel cut the Storm’s lead to 10-7 with a 37-yard field goal at 14:17 in the second quarter. Nordic responded immediately, as Jadrian Clark found Hugo Kwofie for a 19-yard touchdown (13-10). Goebel struck again from 42 yards at 5:15 to tie the game at 13-13, but Anthony Soulerot’s 4-yard rushing touchdown with five seconds left in the half gave the Storm a 20-13 halftime advantage.
Nordic Storm RB Armand Soulerot (42) runs the football during the Wild Card against the Rhein Fire at Gladsaxe Stadion in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Mikkel Bo Rasmussen / 1st Down Photo
Clock management and red-zone resilience
Nordic drained 9:14 off the clock with a marathon third-quarter drive, though it ended without points after a blocked field goal. Rhein narrowed the gap to 20-16 via Goebel’s third kick but failed to capitalize on red-zone opportunities, settling for field goals on three trips inside the 25-yard line. The Storm defense, led by linebacker Emmanuel Falola’s nine tackles, stifled the Fire’s rushing attack (3.8 yards per carry) and pressured quarterback Chad Jeffries into a 57% completion rate.
Nordic Storm RB Armand Soulerot (42) and teammates celebrates his TD during the Wild Card game against the Rhein Fire at Gladsaxe Stadion on August 24, 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Mikkel Bo Rasmussen / 1st Down Photo
Clark’s MVP-caliber performance seals victory
Clark dominated, completing 26 of 32 passes (81%) and spreading targets to eight receivers, including Benjamin Beaulieu (10 catches, 99 yards). His 12-yard scramble on third down late in the fourth quarter set up Soulerot’s game-sealing touchdown, followed by a decisive two-point conversion to Kwofie. The Fire’s late rally — a 5-yard Jeffries touchdown pass to Scott — came with five seconds left, ensuring drama but no miracle.
Fire’s missed opportunities prove costly
Though the Storm outgained Rhein 393-329 in total yards, the Fire’s inability to convert red-zone trips into touchdowns (three field goals, one late TD) sealed their fate. Jeffries’ 156 passing yards and Scott’s 158 rushing yards highlighted Rhein’s balanced attack, but Storm’s efficiency (4-of-4 TD drives vs. Fire’s 2-of-5) proved decisive.
Rhein Fire RB Jonathan Scott (11) runs the football behind WR Harlan Kwofie (10) during the Wild Card game at Gladsaxe Stadion in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Mikkel Bo Rasmussen / 1st Down Photo
Next stop: Vienna Vikings
The Storm advance to face the Vienna Vikings in the semifinals, carrying momentum from their inaugural 11-3 campaign. Rhein’s season ends at 9-5, their quest for a third straight title halted by a Nordic squad that has now toppled them twice in three 2025 meetings. Clark’s poise under pressure and Storm’s balanced attack (101 rushing yards, 309 passing) position them as legitimate title threats, while Fire face an offseason reckoning after their earliest playoff exit since 2022.