1-0 Liege in Europa League clash

Christian Gamboa was handed his first start for FC Copenhagen on Thursday night, as the Lions faced Belgian side Standard Liege in the final round of the UEFA Europa League group stage.

by Joe Short

Before kick off PARKEN fell into silence as fans, officials and players alike took a minute to remember those who have died since the tragic attack in Liege on Tuesday. It was Copenhagen’s final game of the autumn before the winter break, with head coach Roland Nilsson naming a relatively strong squad considering the side could not qualify for the knock out round of the competition.

The game started at a slow pace; Liege happy to sit back and watch FCK pass along their back line. Infrequent lunges forward were easily parried by the Standard defence, who looked comfortable with their 1,200 fans behind them. On six minutes Pape Pate Diouf pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the Liege box, but scuffed his half volley wide.

It took 20 further minutes for the next chance to arise. Bryan Oviedo won a free kick off Standard captain Réginal Goreux on the left wing. Christian Bolaños’ cross looked dangerous, but Pape Abdou Camara headed clear before Dame N’Doye or Sölvi Ottesen could get anything on it.

Liege go 1-0 up

Even though FCK looked comfortable in possession, they were struggling to create much in front of goal. Liege sought to take advantage of this, and took the lead after the half hour from a delightful goal from 18-year-old Michy Batshuayi. The striker received a forward ball and turned Ottesen, before cutting inside to strike past Johan Wiland from just inside the area.

It took ten minutes to FCK to respond, and even then Diouf could only hit a defender’s leg as he sent a loose ball goalwards. Just before the half time whistle came Copenhagen’s best move of the game. N’Doye spread to Gamboa who had moved up the right wing, and laid into Bolaños. The Costa Rican found N’Doye again, who hit the right byline before chipping across the face of goal to the lurking César Santin. Liege defender Kanu got his head in the way before Santin could finish however.

Nilsson made a double substitution at the break, withdrawing Santin and Diouf for Martin Vingaard and Morten Nordstrand. FCK immediately took to their search for a goal, playing higher up the park and passing the ball around with purpose. Liege created the first chance of the half however: Nacho González backheeling to Batshuayi, but Wiland got a solid palm to the Belgian’s shot.

Nordstrand rattles woodwork

N’Doye came close on 54 minutes with a speculative overhead kick after a Bolaños cross had been half headed clear by Kanu, but the Senegalese’s effort failed to trouble Moris. A minute later and it was N’Doye turn to act defender, clearing a goalbound Kanu header from a corner.

Morten Nordstrand almost gave PARKEN something to cheer about just before the hour, when the substitute slipped his marker before pushing forward and rattling the underside of the Liege crossbar from outside the area. The ball fell out to N’Doye and – in a scene reminiscent of Copenhagen in the Nou Camp last season – the follow-up header bounced wide of the gaping open net.

N’Doye did better with his next headed attempt just two minutes later. The striker rose high to meet a fierce Oviedo cross from the left wing and head low towards goal. However, Moris got down with a tremendous reaction save to deny N’Doye his fourth European goal this season.

Liege continued to create the better chances as the clock ticked down however: substitute Gohi Bi Cyriac heading wide from five yards out with a couple of minutes to go. Entering stoppage time Vingaard had an opportunity to equalise, but the winger’s well-struck volley hit the side netting.

Vingaard’s chance was to be the last FCK could muster as referee Hüseyin Göçek brought the game to a close. Copenhagen now enter the winter break in the knowledge that domestic football will dominate the spring. The Danish champions are four points clear at the top of the Superliga and still in DBU Cup competition, so there is much to play for when the league picks up again in March.

FC COPENHAGEN: 0 STANDARD LIEGE: 1

FC Copenhagen: Wiland (C), Gamboa, Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Bolaños, Delaney, Claudemir, Diouf, Santin, N’Doye.

Standard Liege: Moris, Goreux (C), Belhocine, Ciman, Berrier, González, Pocognoli, Buyens, Batshuayi, Kanu, Camara.

Referee: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR)