Copenhagen in The Champions League
After having lost the homeleg two weeks ago in Copenhagen 1-2 to Dutch giants AFC Ajax Amsterdam, nobody really believed in progress to the group stage for the Boys in White – except the Danish Champions themselves.
The return leg looked a lot like the first leg, turned upside down! In Copenhagen, FCK played a massive game, having chances coming off the bars and controlling the match. Still it was Ajax scoring twice on what seemed to be 1½ opportunity.
In Amsterdam Ajax controlled the match and having their volleys saved by the bars. Espaecially the first half was tough for the Copenhagen squad. Gabri played up to his best, oppose to the match a fortnight ago and with him and the very skilled Wesley Sneijder Ajax had two players willing to seek every opportunity get the leading goal.
Copenhagen on the other hand knew that they had to score at least two goals to beat Ajax on aggregate. Instead of rushing out in a naïve attempt to get the leading goal, Ståle Solbakkens players were trying to prevent Ajax from scoring, and then hoping for a counterattack or a set piece to get that crucial first goal.
With one hour played captain Tobias Linderoth made a fantastic pass on one of those set pieces, giving a completely unmarked Michael Silberbauer an easy chance of giving Copenhagen the lead – he did not fail and all of a sudden Ajax started getting nervous. As they tried to keep Copenhagen from getting the second goal they also had their fair share of chances when all of a sudden Copenhagen got the chance to make a counter attack.
Youngster and Under-21International William Kvist made an irresistible rush on the right side of the pitch, having only Fredrik Berglund in the box. Kvist didn’t mind and tried a long pass towards the Swedish striker, Berglund. The ball were running on the exact path towards Berglund, but Ajax defender Thomas Vermaelen intercepted the ball. Unfortunately his interception meant that the ball made a perfectly curved volley over the Ajax keeper who looked like he was unable to move at all. As he froze the ball found it’s way into the Ajax goal.
Up 2-0 Copenhagen was on their way to their first ever run in the prestigious tournament. Ajax on the other hand forced the Danish Champions back, making a fierce pressure on the Copenhagen goal. After three minutes stoppage time, German referee Herbert Fandel blew the whistle for the last time and Copenhagen celebrated the 3-2 win on aggregate.
