FCK 1-3 Randers

by Joe Short

FC Copenhagen suffered defeat on their home Superliga return as two headed goals earned Randers a 3-1 victory in PARKEN. Jonas Borring and Nicolai Brock-Madsen both scored second-half headers after Ronnie Swartz had cancelled out Thomas Delaney's early opener.

The defeat means FCK remain bottom of the Superliga but positives can be found in Ariel Jacobs' midfield intent. Delaney was the pick of the bunch, netting his first of the season with a powerful header off Lars Jacobsen's centre. A win was not forthcoming, however, as both Claudemir and substitute Christian Bolaños went close to scoring.

FCK start with intent

Copenhagen were the first to threaten, Thomas Delaney arriving late into the box to head narrowly wide a Claudemir cross on six minutes. The FCK midfield looked sharp going forward, Rurik Gislason commanding possession and freeing up space for runners through the centre. Delaney came even closer to opening the scoring 11 minutes in, the midfielder heading a Claudemir throw from the left this time, Mikkel Andersen tipping the ball around the post for a corner.

Gislason and Lars Jacobsen proved effective down the right flank early on, with play often falling to the overlapping full-back's feet. Eighteen minutes in and Gislason was afforded freedom to shoot in the box after a neat pull back from Jacobson - but a Randers shirt blocked the midfielder's goal-bound effort.

Click here for highlights of FCK 1-3 Randers on FCKTV

FCK's toil eventually paid off on 23 minutes when Delaney got his reward for persistent attacking intent. Jacobsen crossed deep from a short corner on the left and again found Delaney, who rose highest to head into the top right corner, goalkeeper Anderson completely stranded.

Randers hit on the break

The lead didn't last long, however, as Randers hit in clinical fashion on 35 minutes. Nicolai Brock-Madsen took advantage of a high FCK line to run free of Jacobsen, place the ball across the box for Ronnie Schwartz, who smashed the equaliser past Johan Wiland. Schwartz had another great chance seconds later, cutting onto his right foot from the left before curling a 25-yard effort just over Wiland's crossbar.

The tempo failed to slow before half time. First Delaney saw a volleyed effort blocked for a corner, before both Pierre Bengtsson and Jacobsen showed defensive qualities when clearing away deep Randers balls.

FCK started the second half with as much intent as the first: Marvin Pourie seeing an early header bounce wide and Gislason testing Andersen with a low drive. At the other end Swartz forced a good save out of Wiland from a half-volley. On the hour mark Ariel Jacobs made his first substitutions, bringing on César Santin for Pourie and Christian Bolaños for Thomas Kristensen as FCK maintained their 4-4-2 structure.

Randers take the lead

Bolaños was immediately involved in the action, sending wide a glorious chance from the right of the box on 69 minutes after promising build-up between Santin and Igor Vetokele. Schwartz, meanwhile, continued to be Randers' main threat and glanced a header inches wide before teammate Jonas Borring blasted the away team in front with a powerful header of his own.

Three minutes later and it was 3-1 to Randers as Brock-Madsen flicked on an inswinging corner past Wiland. Olof Mellberg moved form defence to attack as FCK looked to find a way through a deep Randers back line, while Danny Amankwaa came on for Gislason. Despite looking sprightly on the ball, Amankwaa couldn't change proceedings as FCK lost their first home Superliga game of the season.

Next up for the Danish champions is an away trip to Farum against FC Nordsjælland next Sunday.

Click here for highlights of FCK 1-3 Randers on FCKTV

FC COPENHAGEN: 1 RANDERS: 1

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen, Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Claudemir, Kristensen, Delaney, Gislason, Vetokele, Pourie.

Randers: Andersen, Thomsen, Nielsen, Sørensen, Tamboura, Kamper, Keller, Bjarnason, Borring, Schwartz, Brock-Madsen

Goals: Delaney (23'), Schwartz, Randers (35'), Borring, Randers (75'), Brock-Madsen, Randers (78').

Referee: Anders Poulsen.