BIF emerge 2-1 victors

Head coach Roland Nilsson made changes to his first XI played before the international break, Bryan Oviedo dropping back into the left back position to accommodate Thomas Delaney on the wing, while Morten Nordstrand was handed a starting place above César Santin up front.

by Joe Short

Just 10,803 spectators entered the gates of the Brøndby Stadium, but this record low attendance – the lowest since the clubs’ first game together in 1992 – did not fail to generate the usual New Firm atmosphere. 

FCK got off to the better start, with Christian Bolaños threatening down the right wing. The Costa Rican cut inside on five minutes and beat two men before firing left-footed directly at Michael Tørnes, who punched clear.

The Lions were forced into an early substitution when a collision between Peter Larson and BIF’s Martin Bernberg saw the Copenhagen centre back come off worst. Jacobson was forced to leave the game with a large, deep gash in his leg following the incident. Nilsson acted decisively, bringing on Johnny Thomsen and moving Lars Jacobsen inside.

BIF take the lead

Chances were few and far between in the opening stages, yet Brøndby’s next opportunity resulted in a goal on 17 minutes. The goal was as simple as you could wish for, and showed how lacking in height the FCK defence can be. A high free kick delivered into the box missed everyone until Clarence Goodson rose at the back to nod the ball into Johan Wiland’s goal.

The goal only bolstered BIF, with Copenhagen struggling to retain possession. There were glimpses of light however, both Oviedo and Nordstrand found half chances forced away by the opposition. At the other end, only an offside flag prevented Brent McGrath tapping in a second after neat work with Martin Bernburg.

FCK proved not to be too downtrodden however, and struck back just before half time in a messy goal. Oviedo beat the offside trap to send a low effort at Tørnes. The goalkeeper saved the initial shot, the ball slipping out to Bolaños. The winger tried his luck but could only watch as Jan Frederiksen cleared off the line. The ball fell once again to an FCK player – Dame N’Doye – who made sure of the goal with a fierce hit to make it 1-1.

Lions rue missed opportunities

Copenhagen were not home and dry for half time yet however, as moments before the break Michael Krohn-Dehli struck a low effort at Wiland’s goal. A combination of Ragnar Sigurdsson defending and Wiland shepherding saw the ball cleared away, the goalkeeper clawing Sigurdsson’s goal-bound deflection off the line.

The second half saw the introduction of Pape Pate Diouf, who moved straight to the left wing. However, the substitution could not bolster the FCK ranks significantly, the away side forced to wait out large periods for sporadic attacks. On 55 minutes N’Doye headed into the side netting following a delightful Oviedo cross, while Claudemir also found the wrong side of the post from the edge of the area.

In FCK’s own half Brøndby were making good use of the ball, and indeed, with nine minutes to go, FCK would come to rue their earlier missed chances. After various substitutions, BIF coach Auri Skarbalius found his golden combination when Dario Dumeric fed Thomas Rasmussen in on goal. The striker beat his way somehow past Lars Jacobsen and fired low underneath Wiland to give Brøndby a 2-1 lead they wouldn’t let go.

Martin Vingaard soon came on for Nordstrand, in an appearance that should have been more celebrated than the context of the score commanded. The winger – back from an eight-month injury – couldn’t aid Copenhagen’s attempts to claw back an equaliser, as the Danish champions suffered just their second defeat of the season, and their first to BIF since 2008.

BRØNDBY IF: 2 FC COPENHAGEN: 1

Brøndby IF: Tørnes, Nilsson, Goodson, Stenderup, Frederiksen, Larsen, Thygesen, Ajilore, Krohn-Dehli, McGrath, Bernburg.

FC Copenhagen: Wiland(C), Jacobsen, Larsson, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Claudemir, Kristensen, Bolaños, Delaney, Nordstrand, N’Doye.

Goals: Goodson, Brøndby IF (17’), N’Doye (41’), Rasmussen, Brøndby IF (81’).

Referee: Lars Christoffersen.