Adi scores on debut
by Joe Short
FC Copenhagen welcomed back an old friend on Sunday while a new face was also applauded into PARKEN for their game against FC Vestsjælland. Ståle Solbakken returned for his first game as head coach after leaving the club in 2011 and new signing Fanendo Adi scored a debut goal six minutes in.
The Nigerian was the first to react to a Lars Jacobsen cross from the right byline after positive build-up play through the FCK midfield. He broke of his man to head home the captain's centre and send PARKEN into raptures.
Vestsjælland would get back into the game on 14 minutes, however, when a relatively tame shot from Rasmus Festersen squeezed past Johan Wiland. The goalkeeper looked to have got a hand to the ball as it swerved to his left but Festersen's shot was just too powerful.
Watch match highlights here on FCKTV
FCK were almost made to pay for a brief loss of possession midway through the first half when Thiago Borges broke free of a high Lions backline. The striker bore down on Wiland's goal but placed his effort yards wide of the right-hand post, a let off for Copenhagen.
Into the second half and a rapid passage of play almost led to a Copenhagen goal when Adi picked up the ball on the left, spread into the centre for Rurik Gislason who selflessly set up Nicolai Jørgensen. Goalkeeper Thomas Mikkelsen was more than a match for the Dane's effort, however, as the scores remained 1-1.
As the clock ticked down substitute César Santin saw a volley trickle narrowly wide before Mikkelsen saved the Brazilian's diving header with his feet from just eight yards out. While FCK pressured, FCV were always a threat on the counter and Thiago again finished off a counter attack placing his shot into the advertising hoardings. Wiland was also a match for Festersen's 20-yard drive late on as Copenhagen earned their first point under the new Ståle regime.
Watch match highlights here on FCKTV
FC COPENHAGEN: 1 FC VESTSJÆLLAND: 1
FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen, Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Bolaños, Kristensen, Claudemir, Gislason, Jørgensen, Adi.
FC Vestsjælland: Mikkelsen, Lund, Nielsen, Bozga, Lumb, Berg, Madsen, Bertolt, Festersen, Thiago, Sørensen.
Goals: Adi (6'), Festersen, FCV (14').
Referee: Mads-Kristoffer Kristoffersen.
