Aalborg spoiled the party
The sun was shining from a clear, blue sky over PARKEN, and over 32.000 excited fans were ready to celebrate their heroes on their final step to the title. Copenhagen hadn’t lost a league game since August 27th when Aalborg last visited the capital and won 2-0 only three days after Copenhagen had beaten Ajax in Amsterdam and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
It was widely expected that the six games against Benfica, Celtic and Manchester United would result in some kind of setback in the domestic league, and even Ståle Solbakken admitted he was surprised when it never happened. Instead Copenhagen remained unbeaten in the league for the rest of the autumn and established a comfortable 6 point gap, and after the winter break it had been extended week by week to 16 before today.
The victory in Silkeborg last Sunday not only meant that Copenhagen could secure the championship this Saturday against Aalborg, they also equalled the record with 21 consecutive league games without defeat.
But there were neither gold medals nor new records to be celebrated this weekend, even though captain Tobias Linderoth showed the way when he scored directly from a free kick after 17 minutes.
Tobias Linderoth (6) celebrates his free-kick to 1-0
Copenhagen could and should have scored more in an intense, well-played and entertaining first half, which they dominated against in-form Aalborg. By taking 13 point from their last five games, they were suddenly right in the middle of the battle for the silver medals with Midtjylland and Odense, and today they matched Copenhagen physically and mentally.
10 minutes after the break, when Allbäck was outside being treated for a nose injury, Aalborg equalized, when Jeppe Curth headed a corner from Lindström into the net from close range. Fired with enthusiasm the guests scored again only a few minutes later after a brilliant counter-attack, and league-topscorer Rade Prica made no mistake, when Curth provided him with a fine pass in the penalty area.
Shortly after Ståle Solbakken changed the formation to 3-5-2, and Allbäck showed that his nose for goal was intact, but unfortunately his effort took the inside of the post, rolled along the line and curled past the opposite post… Copenhagen tried and tried, roared on by the gold- and goal-hungry fans, while Aalborg backed home and cleverly defended their lead. Ailton had two good chances, one brilliantly saved by Aalborg-keeper Jimmy Nielsen and one in the roof of the net. Hutchinson and Silberbauer also might have scored, and no doubt that at least a draw would have been a fair result.
A disappointed Jesper Grønkjær salutes the fans after the game
However, Aalborg did it again and got their second victory in PARKEN this season. A glance at the league table tell Copenhagen that it still only is a matter of time, before they can open the champagne and celebrate another championship. The next match-point is Wednesday night in Brøndby!
All photos by Carl Redhead
Matchfacts:
F.C. COPENHAGEN-AAB AALBORG 1-2 (1-0)
17.: 1-0 Tobias Linderoth
59.: 1-1 Jeppe Curth
62.: 1-2 Rade Prica
Attendance: 32.656
F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen – Lars Jacobsen, Michael Gravgaard, Brede Hangeland, Niclas Jensen (75.: William Kvist) - Michael Silberbauer, Tobias Linderoth, Hjalte Nørregaard (63.: Ailton Almeida), Atiba Hutchinson - Jesper Grønkjær, Marcus Allbäck. (Un-used substitutes: Oscar Wendt, Benny Gall)
Bookings: Michael Silberbauer (banned next match) and Michael Gravgaard
