All square in Sweden

30/06 2011 18:55

FC Copenhagen played their first pre-season friendly this afternoon against Swedish outfit Helsingborgs IF, at their home ground Olympia. The match was also the first for the new Lions head coach Roland Nilsson. He, along with the rest of his staff, watched a new-looking FCK side play to a 0-0 draw in front of approximately 3,000 spectators, 100 of which traveled up from Copenhagen.

by Joe Short

On a fine pitch in glorious sunshine it was FCK who started the brighter. Johnny Thomsen, given his first start in a white shirt, took just five minutes to find Saban Özdogan at the far post, but the midfielder's effort was turned away by HIF's goalkeeper for a corner.

Up front, both Cesar Santin and Dame N'Doye looked in the mood to continue their fine form that saw them record a stunning 42 league goals between them last season. N'Doye and Thomsen linked up well early on, but a penalty claim was dismissed by the referee.

N'Doye almost takes the lead

The home team showed on several occasions their determination to come forward, but either the ball flew wide of the goal or nestled into the safe hands of Johan Wiland who, in honor of the occasion, was given the captaincy.

With ten minutes left of the first half N'Doye looked to have put FCK ahead, but the Senegalese lacked half an inch of boot stud to connect to a Pierre Bengtsson cross, who was played through down the line by Santin: a threat attempted on several occasions during the game.

At half time Nilsson changed five players, so that Kim Christensen, Lasse Lindbjerg, Thomas Kristensen, Christian Grindheim and Johan Absalonsen could get their feet back onto the playingfield. With Wiland substituted, Kristensen was handed the captaincy, and the industrious midfielder immediately put Absalonsen through on goal, but his effort was nicely saved by the HIF keeper. At the other end, Kim Christensen had to be alert to block a goal-bound effort on 50 minutes.

TK and Grindheim hold the midfield

In response to this opportunity N'Doye decided to take the attack into his own hands. In the middle of HIF's half, the striker received the ball but had no outlet. Therefore, he turned to take on three opponents, got the beating of all of them, but fired his shot harmlessly wide of the goal after making an angle for himself.

The midfield pair of Kristensen and Grindheim offered encouragement for the new management set up, with both players showing their excellent passing ability and awareness. A couple more substitutions came after the hour, with Christopher Remmer, Andreas Cornelius and Özdogan all entering to replace Thomsen, Santin and N'Doye. Özdogan therefore played twice in one match, as he had come off at half time.

Towards the end of the game Ragnar Sigurdsson had to be withdrawn with an injury, one that is luckily not as serious as first feared. Very little ensued after the change however, and the 0-0 final score was respectable for both sides.

HELSINGBORGS IF: 0 FC COPENHAGEN: 0

FC Copenhagen: Wiland (C), Thomsen, Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Özdogan, Claudemir, Bergvold, Toutoyh, N'Doye, Santin.