Comfortable 3-0-win against Lyngby
Photo: Lars Rønbøg, Sportsagency.dk
by Joe Short
Coach Ståle Solbakken brought Sölvi Ottesen and Cesar Santin back into the starting line up for FCK’s home tie against Lyngby, after both players had endured a week on the sidelines due to injury. Jesper Grønkjær, Copenhagen’s star striker last Tuesday against Rosenborg, was subsequently rested.
It was Zdeněk Pospech who had the first opportunity of the game, but the right back got the ball caught up under his feet when free in the area. The Czech star was on call at the other end of the pitch after 12 minutes however, deflecting an Emil Larsen effort into the hands of Johan Wiland.
Two minutes later and Cesar Santin should have opened the scoring when he found himself unmarked in the box, but his powerful header lacked accuracy as Lyngby’s Rune Pedersen reacted sharply to tip over the bar.
The flow was all Copenhagen’s as the home side exploited space down the right hand side. Pospech crossed frequently, and on 17 minutes both Santin and Dame N’Doye were guilty of completely missing a tantalizing ball from the defender.
And yet it was an attack down the left that generated FCK’s opening goal on 19 minutes. A quick free kick to Claudemir caught the away side out, as the Brazilian turned to spread the play wide to Oscar Wendt. The left back thought about a cross, but instead thundered in a strike from outside the box that Pedersen could only get a weak hand to as the ball soared into the net.
After the goal the pressure seemed to double, with FCK fighting hard for the ball during the rare occasions they lost it. Indeed, this hunger to regain possession set up a counter attack for the home side that eventually resulted in FCK doubling their cushion after 24 minutes. Pospech cut inside to play the ball through to Thomas Kristensen on the overlap. The midfielder delightfully chipped a cross to the back post where N’Doye was waiting. Pedersen got down to stop the striker’s header in the corner of the goal, but N’Doye was there to blast in the rebound, reacting quicker than any of the Lyngby defence.
PARKEN was in high spirits, as were the players, who were producing some beautiful cross-pitch football. This tactic almost worked again for the home side, as Kristensen once more found himself at the Lyngby by-line. This time he drilled a ball across goal, but Santin fluffed the open-net opportunity much to the amazement of the home crowd.
At the other end, Lyngby created their first real efforts on goal just past the half hour mark: Lasse Rise first shot wide before Larsen bobbled an effort harmlessly to Wiland. In fact, these chances marked a spell of possession for Lyngby as they looked to claw their way back into the game. However, the opportunities fell to FCK. N’Doye would have converted a Kristensen cross had he not slipped on 37 minutes, while his header from Pospech found the waiting keeper two minutes later.
Just before half time Santin thought he had earned his side a penalty after a mesmerising run through the entire Lyngby backline, but a late challenge was waved away by the referee.
The second half started with a brief scare for FCK, as Antonsson let in Anders Christiansen after the defender had mistimed a crucial challenge. However, Wiland was alert to the danger and closed down Lyngby man to expel the danger.
Four minutes later and Kristensen troubled the away keeper with a hard drive from a tight angle, but seconds later the third goal finally came. N’Doye with his back to goal flicked a beautiful through-ball to Santin who had read the play well, and the striker neatly slotted home to celebrate in front of the baying crowd.
The goal effectively killed the game off, but FCK were not prepared to sit back. Sölvi Ottesen proved why he is so crucial to Solbakken’s plans with a hard but fair challenge on Kasper Kristensen.
Just after the hour mark Lyngby again enjoyed a spell of possession, but could not pull off an effort until Kristensen headed harmlessly to Wiland. In response recent substitute Martin Bergvold should have scored a left-footed volley.
With the game effectively over, Solbakken withdrew Claudemir for Kenneth Zohore in preparation for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League tie with Rosenborg. This did not prevent a brief scare for the home side as N’Doye was clattered on the left knee ten minutes later, but thankfully the Senegalese striker was able to continue.
In the closing stages N’Doye showed again his ability to create chances with a perfect through-ball to Bergvold, but the midfielder could only slot wide of the post; Pedersen well beaten.
Three minutes of stoppage time produced little activity, and at the final whistle fans and players alike will have changed focus to Wednesday’s important tie against Rosenborg at PARKEN.
