Dame Ndoye struck a hat-trick as champions FC Copenhagen thumped third-placed FC Midtjylland 5-2 on Thursday.

The capital club trailed to Martin Albrechtsen's 15th-minute goal, but they forged ahead when Ndoye scored his first two goals after 26 and 30 minutes. Cristian Bolanos added a third on 56 minutes and, while a Mads Albaek penalty kept Midtjylland in touch, the hosts' win was sealed when Ndoye got his third before another from Cesar Santin.

Odense failed to guarantee second and a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers after they drew 3-3 at home to Horsens. Odense had to battle back to claim a point, which moved them five clear of Midtjylland with two games to play, after a Niels Lodberg penalty and Thomas Kortegaard strike cancelled out Daniel Hoegh's seventh-minute opener. Henrik Andreasen made it 2-2 a minute after half-time but Odense needed Andreas Johansson to equalise for a second time after Kenan Hajdarevic fired in Horsens' third.

At the other end of the table, Eyjolfur Hedinsson scored a 76th-minute winner as Sonderjyske claimed a crucial 2-1 win over relegation rivals Esbjerg.

Bottom-placed Esbjerg shocked their rivals by taking a first-minute lead through Jacob Ankersen but Henrik Hansen equalised on the stroke of half-time before Hedinsson's winner. The win moved Sonderjyske four points clear of danger while Esbjerg are three points from safety.