Draw at home
Before kickoff the Copenhagen faithful offered a special welcome to the club’s three newcomers, Kim Christensen, Sölvi Ottesen and Claudemir, who all received flowers and a loud applause from the stands. The club were then handed last season's Fair Play award of DKK 50,000; money that will be invested in FCK's youth academy.
By Joe Short
The home side started aggressively and created a chance within the opening few minutes. Oscar Wendt played a set piece to Cesar Santin in midfield, but Karim Zaza pulled off a quick reflex save to push the ball away for a corner. Three corners in a row followed, but the guests packed into their own half to ride out the storm.
It was AaB however who opened the scoring. Kasper Bøgelund collected a cross in a melee of players and stroked the ball into the goal: Johan Wiland reacting too late to enable him to reach it.
The Lions were quiet, but not for long, as attacks began to rain on Zaza & co. Dame N'Doye had several good opportunities, but headed over from a Claudemir ball; shot wide after a delicate piece of link up with Jesper Grønkjær; and hesitated too long when he was played free on the left side of the box.
Half way through the first half, an energetic Thomas Kristensen collected a lay off from Grønkjær who had passed Bøgelund on the edge and the area. The resulting shot however saw the ball sail harmlessly over the bar. AaB retaliated with a few half shots; a big chance falling to Ronnie Schwartz that Johan Wiland took good care of.
AaB were holding the home side from creating anything, but just before the break a strong run by Claudemir found the onrushing Kristensen in the box, but unfortunately his stunning first-time effort directed straight at Zaza, with Santin looping the ball over the bar on the rebound. Grønkjær also managed to create a shooting opportunity in the closing stages of the half, but again the shot rose high above the bar.
During the break departed FCK keeper Jesper Christiansen received a warm tribute from the fans, who gave the goalkeeper a beautiful farewell for his long service at the club.
Just five minutes after the restart Claudemir received an excellent ball from Santin, but was put off at the crucial moment to timidly place a shot straight at Zaza. The Copenhagen goal finally came on the hour mark however. N'Doye was pushed by AaB defender Lasse Nielsen in the box, which was enough for referee Anders Hermansen to unhesitatingly point to the spot. Santin made Zaza dive one side and rolled the ball into the other for the equaliser.
After the penalty, Stale Solbakken made his first substitution with Martin Vingaard replacing a tired Jesper Grønkjær, and from thereon only one goal was under threat. In the 66th minute Vingaard was played entirely free behind the Aab back line by Kristensen. The Brazilian chipped the ball over Zaza and hammered it in the net. Unfortunately play was called back for offside, and it even cost Claudemir a yellow card for dissent, although he did plea his innocence.
Zaza may have been slow, but he can’t be criticized for Lions inefficiencies in front of goal. A long Claudemir throw found N'Doye free in the middle of the box, but his shot again blazed over the bar. In the last ten minutes FCK made a double substitution – as Zohore and Özdogan entered the pitch for Santin and Kristensen – but they could not break down the impenetrable North Jutland defense, which resiliently fought for their cause.
The constant Copenhagen pressure couldn’t breach the away side’s goal: Vingaard completely free hammering the ball off the edge of the crossbar in the final minute of the game. This was as close as FCK could penetrate, as they were forced to settle for their first draw of the new season.
