Copenhagen grind out rivalry win
Coach Ståle Solbakken made only one change to his starting line up from FCK’s 1-0 victory over Rubin Kazan in midweek, with Christian Bolaños starting, in a straight swap on the right wing for Martin Vingaard for the visit of Brøndby IF.
By Joe Short
Dame N’Doye, hero of last Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League battle against the Russian champions, was handed another start with strike partner Cesar Santin up front for the top of the Superliga clash.
As expected – due to the intense rivalry between the clubs – the match began at a blistering pace, with both teams pressing their opponents as soon as either lost possession. The play reflected the atmosphere: both sets of supporters highly vocal in their support.
The speed of the opening was epitomised in Bolaños, whose quick feet landed the home side a penalty on five minutes. The winger picked up a penetrating William Kvist ball, rounded one defender before being tripped as he was about to shoot: the referee having no doubts over the decision. Santin calmly stepped up to take the spot kick, and much to the FCK crowd’s relief, his effort came off the left hand post to roll agonisingly across goal and nestle just inside the right hand upright.
The atmosphere intensifies
With PARKEN in raptures, FCK attacked immediately from kick off, but N’Doye’s eventual effort was easily gathered by Brøndby goalkeeper Michael Tørnes. The fast pace of the game somewhat deflated after the goal, as both sides began to concede needless free kicks; notably Michael Krohn-Dehli, booked after kicking out at Zdenek Pospech after the Copenhagen right back was fouled in his own corner.
On 19 minutes Bolaños was played free on the right by-line, but his cross was dealt with efficiently by Tørnes. However, the keeper was in trouble two minutes later as he mistimed a punch from a long Claudemir throw in, but N’Doye could only swipe the ball over the bar after it dropped kindly for him in the Brøndby area.
The flow seemed to be with the Lions, but as the half progressed Brøndby began to control the ball. After a Santin header was clawed off the line by Tørnes in the 35th minute, the away side quickly initiated a counter attack. William Kvist – the last man back – was able to dispel any danger as the FCK rearguard made their way back into position, but was unable to prevent a Mike Jensen effort at goal three minutes later.
Brøndby pressure
Inspired by this shot on goal, Brøndby pressured the FCK half before the break, but gritty defending prevented the away side from troubling Johan Wiland. First Mikael Antonsson was alert to head away a dangerous cross on 40 minutes – striker Ousman Jallow lurking – while four minutes later Jens Larsen fired a flying left-footed volley at goal from the edge of the area, but it dribbled harmlessly wide of Wiland’s far post.
Brøndby were able to create one more chance before the break, but Wiland was quick to react to Remco Van der Schaaf’s header on the penalty spot.
Cagey second half opening
The second half began in contrast with the first, as both sides seemed slow to retain any useful possession. Copenhagen appeared happy to defend their lead and counter attack when warranted, and their tactic worked on the 57th minute. N’Doye picked up the ball in midfield and played a perfect cutting ball through the Brøndby defence to Santin. The Brazilian needed no second chances to coolly slot the ball through the advancing Tørnes' legs to double the FCK lead.
Again after the goal came a variety of feisty challenges. First Martin Vingaard narrowly avoided a booking for a rash challenge, before Larsen fouled Oscar Wendt as the left back cleared his lines. In retaliation, Bolaños showed the opposite side of the beautiful game with a delightful nutmeg to send FCK forward on the attack, as “ole” rang around PARKEN to accompany the Copenhagen possession.
On 65 minutes Pospech was guilty of wasting a good chance, as the right back etched out an effort for himself after good work down the wing. Entering the box, the Czech fell back all the way to the central edge of the penalty area, but his resulting shot never reach the Brøndby goal.
Three minutes later and the away side had their best opportunity to get back into the game. After neat football down the left wing from Krohn-Dehli, Thomas Rasmussen floated a delightful cross over to the unmarked Nicolaj Agger, but the forward couldn’t reach the ball in time.
Solid defence
Copenhagen were beginning to sit back, happy to let their opponents play with the ball without any meaningful penetration. However, Wiland still had to be on his toes on 73 minutes as a Jensen shot forced the keeper into a fine save, while Krohn-Dehli’s header could have been more dangerous.
Sölvi Ottesen’s defensive capabilities were also in demand as his last-second tackle prevented Alexander Farnerud from bearing in on goal, while at the other end Claudemir was close to setting up N’Doye for a third, but his ball was intercepted just in time. A Vingaard corner in the 83rd minute, overhit and harmlessly out for a goal kick, summed up Copenhagen’s luck in the second half, while late substitute Thomas Delaney almost played the inch-perfect ball through for Claudemir.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Van der Schaaf forced a final save out of Wiland, while N’Doye had time to test Tørnes in the Brøndby goal before the referee brought a tense second half to a close. The 2-0 win continues FCK’s unbeaten start to the Superliga season, as their attentions must now turn towards their midweek fixture against Viby IF in the Ekstra Bladet Cup.
