Copenhagen stun AaB 3-0

29/07 2012 09:55

FC Copenhagen’s preparations for their UEFA Champions League clash in midweek could not have had a bigger boost than their 3-0 win over AaB on Saturday. Goals from strikers Cornelius, Santin and Abdellaoue sealed the victory.

by Joe Short

With the suspension of Claudemir, Christian Grindheim was handed a starting role in the middle of the park, with Andreas Cornelius playing up front alongside César Santin. Kris Stadsgaard was placed in defence while Lars Jacobsen continued with the captaincy.

FCK started the brighter, Grindheim firing over the bar just five minutes in. The home side struggled to force through AaB’s midfield however, and it took 10 more minutes until Bryan Oviedo broke free down the left wing, and crossed to César Santin. But the striker put too little on the low cross, tapping wide a good chance from eight yards out.

AaB did eventually come into the game, but only generated one chance in a slow opening. Nicklas Helenius slipped past Stadsgaard in the box and pulled the trigger, but Johan Wiland was equal to the shot.

Cornelius opens the scoring

FCK took control just before half time, and on 39 minutes found a lead they would never relinquish. Moments after Cornelius had tried an ambitious volley from distance, the 19-year-old hammered a free ball into the net after goalkeeper Nicolai Larsen had saved off Santin.

The Lions took their momentum through half time, and came out for the second half raring to go. Their confidence showed just three minutes in, when Santin broke free in the AaB box but couldn’t meet a whipped Jacobsen cross. 52 minutes had passed when Santin earned a free-kick on a dangerous position, where Bryan Oviedo tried his luck only to be denied by Larsen.

However, Copenhagen’s wait for a second goal was soon over when Santin rounded off a nice counter attack to make it 2-0 on the hour. With AaB pushing up the field, Bolaños broke free with Thomas Kristensen on the right flank. The Costa Rican sent TK through AaB’s back line, and all the midfielder had to do was square to Santin for a simple finish.

Mos comes on to make it three!

Shortly after the goal Ariel Jacobs made his changes, bringing on Martin Vingaard and Mos Abdellaoue for Nicolai Jørgensen and Cornelius. Yet it was AaB who controlled the remainder of the game, with FCK happy to sit back and soak up the pressure. Helenius had a good opportunity on 70 minutes but Stadsgaard threw himself in the way of the shot, while at the other end Larsen did well to tip over Jacobsen’s long-range drive.

With full time approaching Wiland pulled off a marvellous save to keep FCK’s lead safe, flicking away Henrik Dalsgaard’s effort for a corner. Moments later and Copenhagen made it 3-0, when substitute Pierre Bengtsson surged forward before passing across a perfect ball for Abdellaoue, the Norwegian tapping home to seal victory.

FC COPENHAGEN: 3 AaB: 0

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen (C), Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Bolaños, Grindheim, Kristensen, Jørgensen, Santin, Cornelius.

AaB: Larsen, Dalsgaard, Petersen, Nielsen, Ahlmann, Kusk, Würtz, Augustinussen, Due, Andersen, Helenius.

Goals: Cornelius (40’), Santin (60’) Abdellaoue (90’).

Referee: Henrik Nystrup Kragh.