Copenhagen progresses in Cup
Following a tough victory over Brøndby last Sunday, coach Ståle Solbakken made a host of changes to his squad for FCK’s visit to Viby IF in the first match of their Ekstra Bladet Cup campaign.
by Joe Short
First choice goalkeeper Johan Wiland was given a rest in place of Kim Christensen for his official debut, while the defensive backline of the weekend was completely changed: Mathias Zanka partnered Peter Larsson in the centre, with Danni Jensen and Bryan Oviedo covering the flanks, behind Saban Özdogan and Thomas Delaney respectively. A central midfield pairing of Thomas Kristensen and Hjalte Nørregaard provided more experience for the away side. The forward line of the weekend was overturned too, as Søren Frederiksen was handed his first full start for the club next to Martin Vingaard.
Early home lead
One may be forgiven in thinking it would be plain sailing for the Danish champions, and yet on twelve minutes Viby IF took the lead. A sloppy misread by Danni Jensen and Zanka let Troels Meldgaard in on goal, who slotted home neatly past Christensen to send the home side into raptures.
Martin Vingaard hammered a free kick onto the Viby crossbar minutes later, as Copenhagen looked to press on and get their way back into the fixture. After Nørregaard had a few chances, the Lions found their footing at last with a beautiful Vingaard effort on 23 minutes. The front man made space for himself on the edge of the box, and duly fired a direct low shot beyond the sprawling Thorsten Marx.
Four minutes later and Copenhagen took the lead. Søren Frederiksen did what strikers do best and got his head on a whipped cross from Oviedo to steer the ball into the top corner of the net.
Full-debutant brace
The recent signing then doubled his goal tally on the half hour, after a collision between the Viby keeper and Larsson. Vingaard delivered the free kick into the heart of the area, and as the two ran into each other, the ball spilled into Frederiksen’s path to make it 3-1 to the away side.
On 39 minutes FCK almost added a fourth, with Nørregaard swooping down to glance a cross, but his header was wide of the mark. Frederiksen then came close just two minute later, but Emil Kessel was quick to prevent the striker from bagging a first half hat trick.
The second half began with heavy pressure from Copenhagen, as the home side looked to frustrate their opponents. And yet it was Viby who created the best of the opening exchanges. First Kessel wriggled his way free on the Viby left to deliver a high cross that Christensen struggled to claim first time, while a break seemed imminent in the 52nd minute when Morten Justesen stole away from midfield, but the momentum soon died out of the attack.
Almost in retaliation, FCK pushed forward. Substitute Morten Thomsen shot directly at Marx, after the debutant made space for himself inside the penalty area, and two minutes later almost scored his first for the club. A neat little chip over the Viby defence by Nørregaard sent Thomsen through, but his lobbed effort beat both keeper and crossbar.
Even ugly goals count
The illusive fourth finally came however, but in rather exceptional circumstances. After a Delaney strike was deflected for a corner kick on 59 minutes, Oviedo’s in-swinging cross was missed by Zanka, but not the frame of Jacob Serwin, who was helpless to prevent the ball spinning off the back of his head and looping into the far corner of the goal.
At 4-1 Copenhagen could be justified for sitting back and running down the clock, but on the contrary appeared eager to extend their lead. On the hour mark Frederiksen missed a tantalizing heading opportunity from eight yards out, while Oviedo showed attacking promise down the left wing, pushing up frequently past the midfield to fire consecutive efforts at goal.
At the other end, quick thinking from a Viby throw-in set Martin Foged free to cut inside to the edge of Christensen’s area, but his effort flew high over the bar. Foged was close just a minute later, after neat one-touch passing from the home midfield played Rasmus Kortbæk through, but Zanka intercepted his cross-goal pass in the nick of time.
The FCK defender was almost not so lucky with 20 minutes to go however, after a mix-up with Christensen nearly gave Viby a lifeline. Zanka hesitated to deal with a through-ball, and before Christensen could cover, no.2 ran between to cause havoc. The ball spilled to Foged from the resulting collision, but the striker cold only hit the base of the left hand post from twelve yards out, the face of the goal gaping.
Steady ending
The Lions felt the warning and again responded, but this time regulated and slowed down the play for the rest of the game. Delaney showed great skill to bypass his defender and shoot low in the 74th minute, but Marx saved well, while Thomsen couldn’t finish on the rebound. And with just a few minutes remaining on the clock, substitute Thobias Skovgaard fired an effort way over the crossbar, much to Solbakken’s amusement.
The final whistle was greeted with appreciative applause from the home supporters, who appeared happy with their team’s determination and work ethic. FCK now have just three days of rest before they return to Superliga action, away at third placed FC Midtjylland.
The draw for the next round of the Ekstra Bladet Cup takes place this Friday.
