Brøndby-FCK 1-3 (0-0)

Three goals in 11 minutes in the second half secured F.C. Copenhagen a comfortable win against Brøndby, who only managed to pull one back after a rather dubious penalty.

The first half was a tight and intensive game with a handful of goal-attempts from both sides, but no open chances. Copenhagen seemed to be in control, but one never knows in these games, where the first goal so often has been decisive for the final outcome.

The first goal came a few minutes after the break, when Niclas Jensen - in his first match since returning from Fulham - provided Michael Silberbauer with a perfect cross at the far post, and Silber made no mistake from close range and headed it home. In the following ten minutes Brøndby nearly collapsed, as Copenhagen pushed forward and created several good chances, and in the 56th minute it was da capo for Jensen and Silberbauer - once again the offensive left back laid a perfect cross, and Silberbauer scored with a bullet-header which left Stephan Andersen chanceless in the Brøndby-goal.

Ailton Almeida fighting for the ball, watched by skipper Tobias Linderoth

Ailton hit the post from close range, but shortly after he made no mistake, when a precise through-ball from Linderoth left him with only the keeper to beat. Martin Ericsson reduced from the penalty spot with ten minutes to go, but it seemed like one of those penalties that would not have been given if it had still been an open 0-0-game.

With the comfortable and deserved win, Copenhagen are almost certain to qualify for the quarter finals in Royal League. Only a five-goal-defeat in next Sundays game in PARKEN against Hammarby can prevent the double titleholders from advancement! Brøndby had already qualified together with group winners Lillestrøm. Read more about Royal League here.

Niclas Jensen - two assists in his comeback for F.C. Copenhagen

 All photos: ©Royal League (Per Kjærbye)

Matchfacts:
BRØNDBY IF-F.C. COPENHAGEN 1-3 (0-0)
50.: 0-1 Michael Silberbauer
56.: 0-2 Michael Silberbauer
61.: 0-3 Ailton Almeida
79.: 1-3 Martin Ericsson, penalty
Attendance: 18.496

F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen – Lars Jacobsen (80.: Oscar Wendt), Brede Hangeland, Michael Gravgaard, Niclas Jensen – Michael Silberbauer, Tobias Linderoth, Hjalte Nørregaard, Atiba Hutchinson (72.: William Kvist) – Ailton Almeida (72.: Fredrik Berglund), Marcus Allbäck. (Un-used substitutes: Dan Thomassen, Thomas Villadsen)

Booking: Niclas Jensen, F.C. Copenhagen