FCK-FC Midtjylland 2-1 (2-1)
In the first 30 minutes FC Copenhagen played brilliantly and were two goals up against FC Midtjylland, and it seemed like the guests from Herning could get in serious trouble. But Copenhagen let Midtjylland back in the game and gave away a goal just before the break, leaving the second half an open affair. Eventually, the guests never really threatened the solid Copenhagen defence, and Copenhagen didn’t produce a lot of chances either, so it ended with a deserved 2-1-victory for Copenhagen.
FC Copenhagen line-up: Jesper Christiansen - Lars Jacobsen, Brede Hangeland, Dan Thomassen, André Bergdølmo - Michael Silberbauer, Tobias Linderoth, Atiba Hutchinson, Martin Bergvold - Fredrik Berglund, Marcus Allbäck
FC Copenhagen-captain Tobias Linderoth was celebrated before the game for playing his game number 100 for the Danish champions. Copenhagen missed Michael Gravgaard in the central defence due to a disciplinary ban, but his replacement Dan Thomassen stepped in with a very good performance, which he crowned with a beautiful goal after half an hour. Lars Jacobsen took a corner from the right side, and Thomassen met the ball perfect with his head. Marcus Allbäck had given the champions the lead after 17 minutes with another beautiful header in the far corner, after Michael Silberbauer had provided him with a superb cross.
There were more chances in this very entertaining part of the game, but in the last 10 minutes Copenhagen let go of their solid grip of the game. Suddenly Midtjylland came back with the third headed goal of the game, when Dennis Sørensen outjumped André Bergdølmo and caught keeper Jesper Christiansen a bit too far out in the penalty area.
Copenhagen dominated most of the second half without creating open chances. William Kvist and Hjalte Nørregaard came on for Michael Silberbauer and Fredrik Berglund, and later Razak Pimpong replaced Martin Bergvold. Pimpong got the biggest chance in the second half, when he was alone with Midtjylland-keeper Anders Rasmussen, but the ball slipped way from him, and the keeper denied Pimpong the pleasure of scoring against his former teammates.
The tempo and intensity of the game was high, and even if Copenhagen were in control, the narrow one-goal-lead kept the home crowd nervous right until the last whistle of the game.
The victory meant that Copenhagen climbed to the top of the table, at least until the match between Odense and Brondby on Sunday night. By that time the champions will have their thoughts on the next UEFA Champions League-game against Celtic on Tuesday night!
