F.C. Copenhagen back to winning ways
Martin Vingaard celebrates his goal to 2-0
Photo: Lars Møller, Sportsagency.dk
Head coach Ståle Solbakken made just one change to his starting line up ahead of F.C. Copenhagen's clash with Silkeborg IF; with Christian Bolaños replacing Jesper Grønkjær on the right wing, as the Danish champions returned to league action following their stout 2-0 loss to Barcelona in midweek.
by Joe Short
The opening passages of the game were dominated in possession by the away side: who looked comfortable as they spread the play and retained the ball. However, they failed to muster any significant goal threat, and it was Silkeborg that created the first opening, when a corner from the right was met by Dennis Flinta in the air, who headed a strong effort towards goal. Johan Wiland was quick to respond however, and tipped the ball wide thanks to a confident reflex save.
In the seventh minute F.C. Copenhagen got their first taste of goalmouth action, but Claudemir’s shot rose high over goalkeeper Lasse Heinze’s net. Two minutes later however and the goal frame was left shaking, after Zdenek Pospech hit a rocket from the edge of the area onto the crossbar, following neat build-up play from Claudemir and Dame N’Doye.
Quick footwork the key to opener
The game was flowing from end to end, and in the 12th minute Silkeborg could have done better with a free header that went straight into Wiland’s hands, while shortly afterwards Frank Hansen hooked a tricky volley narrowly wide of the far right hand post.
If Silkeborg sensed a goal, they could be justified in doing so. However, it came at the other end of the field, as a passing move worthy of any league in Europe gave FCK the lead. Pospech fed the ball in nicely to Claudemir, who exchanged close passes with N’Doye before the Senegalese played Cesar Santin through on goal. The front man needed no second chances to lift the ball over the advancing Heinze to put the Lions 1-0 up.
Following the goal came a period of scrappy football as both sides maintained possession within the central third of the field. However, some direct dribbling between Santin and Bolaños almost saw the former bag his second of the game, but his volley sailed up and over the crossbar.
N’Doye takes it on the chin
The Lions were beginning to get into their stride half way through the first half, and should have made it 2-0 on 24 minutes, when more neat football created a one-on-one opportunity for N’Doye. Another quick one-two – this time between N’Doye and Martin Vingaard – set the striker in on goal. However, he took one touch too many, and his eventual effort dribbled agonisingly past the far post. With his head in his hands, N’Doye accidentally slipped on the advertising boards behind the goal, and had to receive lengthy treatment for what appeared to be a chin injury.
As the striker returned to the field, Kaimar Saag shot wide for Silkeborg, while Bolaños showed great determination to escape two challenges to spread the play wide left to Vingaard. His low cross was almost perfect, as it evaded both goalkeeper and defenders, yet Santin couldn’t slide close enough to connect at the back post.
There was a brief scare in the 33rd minute after Mikael Antonsson stayed down following a crucial block of a Saag effort. The defender appeared to collide with Wiland in goal, but after treatment on the sideline was deemed fit to continue the match, much to the travelling FCK fans relief. Santin also had to receive treatment just a minute before half time, as his run in on goal was cut short by a sliding challenge from Flinta. The striker was left prone on the ground holding his left ankle, and did not return for the second half: Søren Frederiksen replacing the goalscorer.
Eagle-eyed vision makes it two
The start of the second half began much slower than the first, with neither side looking to threaten either goal. N’Doye created a chance for himself in the 56th minute, but his shot was well tipped over the bar by Heinze; while just minutes before Silkeborg almost gifted FCK another goal, after Thorbjørn Holst hit Jim Larsen during a clearance, only to see the ball spin away from his own goal.
The second goal came just before the hour mark however, thanks to N’Doye’s quick thinking. The striker dropped deep to collect a pass from Pospech, and immediately looked up to find support. From the right wing, N’Doye delivered a perfect cross-field ball to Vingaard – who had seen the gap in the Silkeborg defence and was bursting to fill it – and took down the ball with ease to slot it under Heinze before an opponent could challenge him.
At 2-0 F.C. Copenhagen's game became slower, as the away side sat back and seemed happy to see Silkeborg play with possession without any major penetration. Sölvi Ottesen came on to replace Mathias Zanka in the 70th minute; a cast on his right arm showing that recovery of the break he suffered last month still needs time to fully heal over. However, this did not stop the Icelander from forcing his mark on the game, as with is first touch he almost scored. Vingaard whipped a cross in to where Ottesen was lurking at the near post, but his flicked header flew over the crossbar.
Costa Rican perfection secures win
It did not take long for FCK to get a third though, and it again came from a well thought-out pass. Claudemir collected a loose ball in midfield and slipped it through to Bolaños on 71 minutes, who cut in behind the Silkeborg defence on the right wing. The Costa Rican’s cross was initially blocked, but span back out to his feet, whereby he efficiently struck left footed into the bottom right corner, to put his Copenhagen side 3-0 up.
Just a minute after the goal, Antonsson forced Heinze into a good save to prevent his header making it 4-0. The final quarter of an hour became Silkeborg’s however, as Copenhagen dropped deep, again happy to let the home side retain the ball without any real conviction. Hansen shot off target in the 83rd minute, while seconds later Larsen could only direct his headed effort away from goal. After Oscar Wendt had lost possession with a minute remaining, Antonsson was again called into action to prevent Martin Svensson from shooting: while at the other end Vingaard shot harmlessly wide as the game petered out in the Jutland rain.
On the final whistle, the FCK players congratulated themselves on a confidence-boosting win. After only their second loss of the season in all competitions occurring in midweek, it was crucial they got back to winning ways in Silkeborg. In claiming all three points, the Lions extend their lead at the top of the Danish Superliga to fourteen. Attention now turns to the Ekstra Bladet Cup, with a tie at PARKEN on Wednesday against AC Horsens on the cards.
SILKEBORG: 0 F.C. COPENHAGEN: 3
F.C. Copenhagen: Wiland, Wendt, Antonsson, Zanka, Pospech, Vingaard, Kvist (C), Claudemir, Bolaños, Santin, N’Doye.
Referee: Michael Johansen
Goals: Santin (17’), Vingaard (59’), Bolaños (72’)
Booked: Dennis Flinta (Silkeborg IF)
