Climbing toward the top
By Jan Eliassen
At the end of July and after three matches F.C. Copenhagen was in 5th place after one win, one draw and one defeat. But as we follow up on the next three matches, we can now say we have three wins, two draws and still only the one loss from game day 1, which leaves F.C. Copenhagen in 4th place only three points behind the league leaders from Randers FC.
AGF – F.C. Copenhagen 0 – 1
4 August 2007
The match between F.C. Copenhagen and AGF could have been "Match of the Year" for AGF - but as the game ended with a 1-0 win to F.C. Copenhagen, the newly promoted players from Aarhus must now focus on another game where they can have their “Match of the Year”.
New in Coach Ståle Solbakkens starting line-up was Libor Sionko, the newly signed Czech International. To give the Czech his debut would soon show to be a wise decision, as his was very must involved in the game winner.
More than 15,000 spectators had chosen to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon at NRGi Park in Aarhus, and they saw a game that had several early chances for both teams – but the only goal of the game came after 22 minutes, when Sionko made a smart move and served at perfect cross to Hutch who didn’t fail and headed in the game winner behind Steffen Rasmussen, the AGF-goalie.
In the second half, F.C. Copenhagen had quite some chances, but AGF also showed that they just didn't want to lose, and they had several good opportunities to level the score – but good goalkeeping from Jesper Christiansen and a hard working defence meant that the score was still 1-0 to F.C. Copenhagen when referee Claus Bo Larsen finally blew the whistle after 93 minutes of play.
F.C. Copenhagen – Esbjerg fB 5 – 2
11 August 2007
In the game played on a Saturday just 5 days after120 minutes of exiting action in Jerusalem, it was Esbjerg who took command early on in the game. It took only 7 minutes, a free kick from Zimling and a misplaced Jesper Christiansen before the visitors had taken the lead. After the early goal F.C. Copenhagen decided they would play some football as well, and only 10 minutes later the score was 1-1. Würtz made a wonderful pass behind the Esbjerg defence, Libor Sionko handled the ball well, but unfortunately hit the post – just to see Hjalte Nørregaard pounce on the rebound and hear the crowd roar as the game was tied.
The remaining part of the first half was entertaining and both teams could have doubled the score, but as the referee blew the whistle after 45 minutes the score was still tied at 1-1.
It is not known what Coach Ståle Solbakken told the players during the break – but it worked!
In the 53rd minute, Michael Gravgaard made it 2-1 when he scored on a set piece when he headed in a free kick from Oscar Wendt. Four minutes later Sionko scored his first goal for F.C. Copenhagen as Morten Nordstrand showed that he can more than “just” score goals, as his well timed header left Libor Sionko all alone with the Esbjerg keeper – and then the score was 3-1.
The fourth goal came in the 69th minute and was almost an exact replica of the 2-1 goal, except it was Nordstrand who headed in the goal. After this goal it was clear to everyone that F.C. Copenhagen would win the game, but still Esbjerg tried its best, and also managed to get to 4-2 as Demba-Nyrén on a perfect strike send the ball past Jesper Christiansen.
Five minutes before time Morten Nordstrand missed a huge chance as he, all alone with the keeper, kicked the ball well over the cross bar. Not very good, but he got his revenge as his second goal of the match simply was FANTASTIC! On a long pass forward Nordstrand found himself alone with two defenders, but after a smart dribble, and just a few meters outside the box, he fired a bullet into the far side of the goal. A great goal to end a great game!
F.C. Copenhagen – FC Midtjylland 0 – 0
19 August 2007
More than 23.000 people had chosen to spend Sunday evening in PARKEN to watch the match between the Danish Champions F.C. Copenhagen and FC Midtjylland, last season’s runner-up and also a club that is expected to be found at the top of the League table this season – together with OB – and maybe the current leader Randers...The two clubs F.C. Copenhagen will be playing in the next two matches.
In the beginning of the match, it was F.C. Copenhagen who was in control – but it didn’t result in any big chances. Instead the chances went to FC Midtjylland, who on several occasions came very close to an opening goal. Saves from Jesper Christiansen and lousy finishing from the visitors meant that the first half ended in a goalless draw.
In the beginning of the second half started none of the two teams could really take command, and it took more than 15 minutes before the first chance was seen – Nordstrand missed. F.C. Copenhagen started to take command after 25 minutes – after Hutch, Hjalte and Almeida was sent on the pitch. In the last 10 minutes of the game, F.C. Copenhagen twice came very close, and both times it was due to Almeida’s fine Brazilian skills. But unfortunately for the home team, none of the chances resulted in a goal, and then the game ended with a 0-0 tie, a fair and reasonably result for both teams.
