Copenhagen lose in Aalborg
Nicklas Helenius’ first-half penalty prevented FC Copenhagen from recording back-to-back wins in the Superliga as AaB ran out 1-0 victors in Jutland.
by Joe Short
The striker, on loan from Aston Villa, buried his 30th-minute spot-kick after Donny Gorter went down in the box.
Thomas Delaney had a goal ruled out for FCK and Daniel Amartey went close for the Lions but Ståle Solbakken’s men couldn’t force an equaliser.
The defeat leaves Copenhagen seventh in the Superliga, nine points off top spot.
FCK show promising start
Lions boss Solbakken made a handful of changes to the side that beat Odense 1-0 before the international break.
Amartey filled in at right-back for Tom Høgli, while Danny Amankwaa played up front alongside Andreas Cornelius - Bashkim Kadrii dropping to the bench as new loan signing Alex Kacaniklic earned a debut start on the left flank.
The Lions held the majority of early possession but a smattering of free-kicks in good positions failed to yield anything, Youssef Toutouh blazing over the best of FCK’s chances.
Per Nilsson headed a fine effort low into the hands of Nicolai Larsen on 16 minutes off an FCK corner as the away side searched for an opener, Kacaniklic also testing the keeper a minute later.
But despite FCK’s attacking intent it was Aalborg who took the lead through Helenius’ spot kick. Daniel Amartey pulled Gorter down on the edge of Stephan Andersen’s area, leaving Helenius with the duty of striking home, although the Danish stopper got a fingertip to the effort.
Kasper Risgård almost made it 2-0 with a drilled effort that flew wide shortly after the penalty, while Delaney had the ball in the net at the other end only for referee Mads-Kristoffer Kristoffersen to rule it out for Cornelius’ foul on Larsen.
Lions fight back
Copenhagen showed promise of clawing back into the game in the early stages of the second half, Nilsson heading wide another corner and Kacaniklic firing over on the counter.
Just after the hour mark Amankwaa found an opening on the left edge of the AaB box but shot low in Larsen’s body, while Amartey forced a neat save out of the stopper from the other flank.
FCK’s forward promise increased with the introduction of Nicolai Jørgensen for Toutouh and Claudemir for Delaney, and with nine minutes remaining Cornelius should have converted a loose ball at the edge of the AaB box.
The Denmark international blazed over another effort as the game entered four minutes of stoppage time, before substitute Mathias Zanka headed over a Bengtsson free-kick, FCK's final chance.
AALBORG: 1 FC COPENHAGEN: 0
Aalborg: Larsen, Dalsgaard, Thelander, Petersen, Gorter, Bruhn, Risgard, Würtz, Thomsen, Jacobsen, Helenius.
FC Copenhagen: Andersen, Amartey, Antonsson, Nilsson, Bengtsson, Gislason, Toutouh, Delaney, Kacaniklic, Amankwaa, Cornelius.
Goals: Helenius, AaB (30’ pen.).
Referee: Mads-Kristoffer Kristoffersen.
