Copenhagen battle past resolute Horsens

22/04 2012 18:28

FC Copenhagen’s spring season has hit an intense period of fixtures, with the Lions playing intermittent Wednesdays and Sundays for the whole month. Head coach Carsten V. Jensen chose to keep the back four that defended so well against SønderjyskE in midweek, with Johan Wiland returning in goal for the arrival of AC Horsens.

by Joe Short

Horsens have been in good form this season, and came into the match third in the Superliga. Their impressive defensive record this term was evident in the opening stages of the game, Horsens’ back line preventing FCK from a meaningful chance until 11 minutes in. A flowing move across the away box eventually found the ball out wide with Lars Jacobson, who shot low across goal, narrowly missing the far corner of the net.

Four minutes later and a superb Christian Grindheim through ball sent Bryan Oviedo in on the left channel, but his shot only found the side netting. Another well-worked move through the FCK midfield resulted in Pierre Bengtsson overlapping Oviedo to shoot into the same side netting on 21 minutes, before Dame N’Doye did well to side-step Niels Lodberg, but failed the scare goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow with his weak effort.

It took 35 minutes for Horsens to have their first major opportunity, but Martin Spelmann’s placed effort bounced wide of Wiland’s left-hand post. Moments later N’Doye clipped the crossbar with a deflected effort following Christian Bolaños’ determination to hit the byline and cut back.

Brazilian trickery gives FCK 1-0 advantage

The breakthrough finally came minutes before half time thanks to a cheeky César Santin penalty. Santin ran on to a precision pass and was about to pull the trigger when Lodberg slid across and brought the striker down. Referee Kenn Hansen immediately pointed to the spot, booked Lodberg, and stood back to watch Santin’s staggered run up and chip into the top left corner of the goal.

Horsens were forced into a half-time substitution after it was clear Rønnow couldn’t continue with a split lip suffered early on. Robert Veselovsky took over command in the away goal, but it was at the other end where the action unfolded. Bengtsson found himself in a battle for possession with André Bjerregaard, the latter going down when he entered the box. Referee Hansen waived away penalty appeals as Bengtsson cleared his lines.

The away side’s pressure continued: peppering Wiland’s area with deep crosses that Copenhagen did well to head clear. The ball fell to Søren Jensen on 54 minutes however, and the defender will have been frustrated he didn’t make more of the chance: scuffing a shot when time was available to compose himself. Spelmann had a magnificent chance minutes later, running on to Ken Fagerberg’s cross but sending his header off target. Fagerberg then poked the resulting long throw wide from five yards out.

Fagerberg and Oviedo exchange glory

FCK finally got into the second half on the hour mark, when Santin headed a Bolaños cross into Veselovsky’s hands. But it proved to be only a brief spark as Horsens equalised on 66 minutes. Fagerberg collected a Spelmann pass on the right wing to cut in behind Bengtsson and shoot low across goal into the far corner. The goal had been coming, and soon Horsens were on the break again, but Kris Stadsgaard intercepted before Fagerberg could finish.

Horsens may have had their tails up, but the tied score lasted little over five minutes before FCK reclaimed the lead. Jacobsen worked his magic down the right flank, weaving his way to the byline to clip over where N’Doye lurked. The ball was too high for the Superliga’s top scorer, but perfect for Oviedo, who surged in at the far post to make it 2-1.

The away side almost equalised 30 seconds after the restart, but Lasse Kryger spooned his shot over from in front of goal after a deflected cross beat Jacobsen on the right. Following this scare Copenhagen settled the game down, opting to retain possession rather than head forward. The offside trap was the only thing preventing both Santin and N’Doye from running through, and CV soon made a swap: Santin off for Martin Vingaard.

Zanka makes his return

Five minutes before time FCK had a golden chance to wrap up the game cleared off the line. Ragnar Sigurdsson nodded on a near-post corner past Veselovsky, but Janus Drachmann threw his body towards the ball before it crossed the whitewash, heading away at the last second. As Copenhagen looked to progress down the right hand side on 89 minutes, Jacobsen pulled up with a muscle strain. CV brought the right back off and replaced him with Mathias Zanka, for the defender’s first game since Lyngby away back in September.

Zanka’s presence helped Copenhagen stopper up any weakness at the back as Horsens failed to muster a final opportunity to threaten the Lions’ 2-1 lead. The win sees FCK maintain their six-point gap over FC Nordsjælland at the top of the Superliga, with DBU Cup semi final action up next on Wednesday evening.

FC COPENHAGEN: 2 AC HORSENS: 1

FC Copenhagen: Wiland(C), Jacobsen, Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Grindheim, Claudemir, Bolaños, Oviedo, Santin, N’Doye.

AC Horsens: Rønnow, Andersen, Agesen, Lodberg, Jensen, Bjerregaard, Kløve, Drachmann, Spelmann, Kryger, Fagerberg.

Goals: Santin (43’ pen), Fagerberg, AC Horsens (66’), Oviedo (71’).

Referee: Kenn Hansen.