FCK crowned champions

by Joe Short

With FC Nordsjælland drawing on Friday all FCK needed was a point to secure the Superliga title and despite peppering Brøndby’s goal were unable to take a win home with them to PARKEN.

Nevertheless, Ariel Jacobs’ side earned the point they need to go 10 points ahead of Nordsjælland with three games remaining, meaning FCK win the title and qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage next term.

Quiet opening half

BIF’s Quincy Antipas was the first to get a shot on target, the striker sending a neat half-volley into Johan Wiland’s chest five minutes in, while Simon Makienok caused the keeper to stretch and pluck a header from under his crossbar four minutes later.

Copenhagen were comfortable playing the ball around the back but couldn’t push forward with much impetus until 16 minutes, when Nicolai Jørgensen found Christian Bolaños on the right. The Costa Rican shot early but his effort was unable to beat Michael Falkesgaard. The BIF keeper was again on hand to make a fine save off Andreas Cornelius, who controlled the ball off his chest before volleying towards goal 24 minutes in. 

Tempers flared on 34 minutes when Lebogang Phiri fouled Jørgensen in the middle of the park and following some heated exchanges between opposing players both Antipas and Jørgensen received yellows. Moments later and the attacker had a golden opportunity to score off Claudemir’s long throw, but blazed over his unmarked volley four yards out.

In the dying stages of the half Falkesgaard fumbled a Claudemir effort onto the BIF post but the ball bounced out for a corner and the first 45 minutes ended goalless.

FCK search for a winner

Copenhagen started the second half well and Bolaños came close to scoring when he turned his man but fired into the side netting on 48 minutes. Five minutes later and Jørgensen almost capped off a surging forward run with a goal but Falkesgaard matched his shot, while Claudemir had time and space to pick his spot off an FCK corner on 58 minutes but scuffed the chance.

Play started to stretch as the game passed the hour mark and on 65 minutes Jørgensen again tested Falkesgaard with a low effort 25 yards out before Ragnar Sigurdsson was inches from converting the proceeding corner after breaking free of his man. Claudemir hit the right byline 70 minutes in but Cornelius couldn’t head the Brazilian’s cross into the net.

With 14 minutes remaining Daniel Jensen replaced Jørgensen yet FCK couldn’t eke out a goalscoring opportunity until Jensen himself headed narrowly wide from right-of-centre on 85 minutes.

Jensen’s effort would be the last of the night and, with points shared between the sides, FCK returned to the capital Danish champions once again.

BRØNDBY IF: 0 FC COPENHAGEN: 0

Brøndby IF: Falkesgaard, Holst, Goodson, Albrechtsen, Silva, Antipas, Thygesen, Gehrt, Phiri, Larsen, Makienok.

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen (C), Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kristensen, Delaney, Jørgensen, Cornelius.

Referee: Kenn Hansen.