Copenhagen fall in Cup quarters

28/11 2012 23:14

FCK travelled to Brøndby for the quarter-final of the DBU Cup but couldn’t force through their opponents’ defence over 120 minutes of football. BIF took the game 1-0 to advance to the semi-finals.

by Joe Short

Copenhagen head coach Ariel Jacobs named a strong side for their defence of the DBU Cup away to Brøndby, with Andreas Cornelius keeping his place up front after two goals at the weekend. Lars Jacobsen returned to right-back while Claudemir started in the centre of midfield.

BIF were the first to try their hand at goal, but striker Quincy Antipas failed to keep his shot down just two minutes in. Brøndby continued an aggressive approach to the game and, buoyed by a raucous home support, dictated the opening throes. Yet FCK held steady and the game witnessed a chance-less quarter of an hour.

Brøndby thought they had opened the scoring 18 minutes in when a lovely move led to Dennis Rommedahl finding the net. Simon Makienok picked up the ball and crossed over to Rommedahl, who bagged his chance in front of goal only to see the offside flag cancel out his effort.

Lions twice hit the crossbar!

FCK had a golden opportunity to take the lead 20 minutes in following a corner. Cornelius rose well to meet the ball but his header thundered off the crossbar, falling to Rurik Gislason who also saw his headed effort rattle off the frame of the goal. Cornelius’ tail was up despite the missed opportunity however, and five minutes later he chested the ball down before rocketing an effort straight at Tørnes in the BIF goal.

Brøndby continued their efforts and Makienok came close with a half volley on 32 minutes after Rommedahl had hit the byline to cross in from the BIF right. Four minutes later and Delaney was involved with a bad head clash with Makienok, the midfielder left bloodied and prostrate on the turf after challenging for the aerial ball. He immediately exited the field for stitches, leaving FCK a man down for almost the rest of the half.

FCK started the second half well: Cornelius setting César Santin up in front of goal but the Brazilian couldn’t convert the low cross from the left. On 54 minutes Delaney sent a cross-come-shot high over the bar from the left wing, the only real chance for either side as the game passed the hour mark without much incident bar a great block by Stadsgaard on Makienok just eight yards from FCK’s goal.

Delaney and Santin both fluff chances

BIF came close to opening the scoring when Makienok won a header before the advancing Kim Christensen could punch clear, the ball ballooning over FCK’s keeper and were it not for Michael Jakobsen would have bounced into the net.

Moments later and FCK should have taken the lead when Jacobsen found Delaney with a free-kick, the midfielder in acres of space in front of goal. Yet Delaney slipped and couldn’t convert the chance, the ball falling to Santin who swiped at thin air as Gislason jumped out of the way. In all the confusion Brøndby cleared the ball without having to save a single effort!

Santin soon came off for Danny Amankwaa while Christensen had to be alert to get to down to a teasing Antipas cross from the BIF left on 83 minutes. FCK continued to pressure but couldn’t find anything going forward, while Mike Jensen swivelled well to almost catch Christensen off guard with two minutes remaining.

Extra time

Three minutes were added on for stoppages that passed without note bar a half chance of Rommedahl after Antipas had dribbled through five FCK players, and so the match went to 30 minutes of extra time.

Just seconds into the first half Brøndby took the lead from a decisive counter attack. Antipas picked up the ball and entered the penalty area unchallenged before laying right to the overlapping Jensen, who slotted his effort into the bottom-left corner of the goal. Cornelius struck a neat half-volley from 20 yards out in reply, but Tørnes got down well to the effort.

Gislason also tested Tørnes with a low shot after a mazy run seven minutes into extra time, while Cornelius headed wide a looping cross moments later. Stadsgaard kicked air rather than the ball from a Cornelius header as the game passed 100 minutes while at the other end Rommedahl beat off the FCK defence but placed his effort wide of goal.

FCK cannot force the lock

After 105 minutes of football Martin Vingaard replaced Delaney. Thomas Kristensen whipped in a great ball for Claudemir at the back post five minutes into the second half but the Brazilian’s header only found Tørnes and moments later Mos Abdellaoue entered for Jacobsen, pushing Amankwaa out to the wing.

TK had a chance as good as Delaney’s in normal time when he also chested in front of goal but failed to shoot. FCK continued to pepper Brøndby’s box but couldn’t pull a shot off and, when Christensen went up field to try and find a later equaliser, Jensen almost secured BIF’s win with a shot from the halfway line that swung wide.

FCK tried a few more long balls but couldn’t force the lock, meaning Brøndby advance to the next stage of the DBU Cup and leave Copenhagen to focus on Europa League and the Superliga this season.

BRØNDBY IF: 1 FC COPENHAGEN: 0

Brøndby IF: Tørnes, Holst, Stenderup, Albrechtsen, Stryger Larsen, Jensen, Thygesen, Rommedahl, Gehrt, Antipas, Makienok.

FC Copenhagen: Christensen, Jacobsen, Stadsgaard, Jakobsen, Bengtsson, Gislason, Claudemir, Kristensen, Delaney, Santin, Cornelius.

Goals: Jensen, Brøndby IF (extra time 1’).

Referee: Kenn Hansen.