FCK-FC Nordsjælland 1-0
F.C. Copenhagen got the first home win of the season in the Superliga, when a late penalty from André Bergdølmo secured a 1-0-win over FC Nordsjælland.
Winning is always important, of course, but especially today after the UEFA Champions League debut against SL Benfica on wednesday. After the two games against Ajax Amsterdam, Copenhagen drew at home against Odense and lost at home against Aalborg, so a third consecutive loss of points after a European performance would not be good for the confidence.
In the Copenhagen-team Marcus Allbäck was back after serving a disciplinary ban against SL Benfica, and Jesper Grønkjær is missing the next couple of months due to a groin injury. Apart from that it was the same players who started against FC Nordsjælland:
Jesper Christiansen - Lars Jacobsen, Brede Hangeland, Michael Gravgaard, André Bergdølmo - Michael Silberbauer (66.: William Kvist), Tobias Linderoth, Hjalte Nørregaard (66.: Razak Pimpong), Atiba Hutchinson - Fredrik Berglund (82.: Martin Bergvold), Marcus Allbäck.
FC Nordsjælland, from Farum north of Copenhagen, has made a positive impact so far in the Superliga under their new manager, ex-Celtic player Morten Wieghorst, and they did not come to PARKEN only to defend. Gradually Copenhagen got a grip of the game and produced good chances to Atiba Hutchinson, Brede Hangeland and Marcus Allbäck, but the biggest chance in the first half belonged to Nordsjælland, when Finnish striker Jukka Santala hit the post with a first-timer from the edge of the penalty area, and eventually the first half ended 0-0.
In the second half Fredrik Berglund should have put the home team in front after five minutes, when he was through in the left side, but Nordsjælland keeper Kim Christensen saved. Before that Hutchinson and Nørregaard had good efforts, that were blocked by the Nordsjælland defence.
Copenhagen continued to dominate the game, but the guests played their chance and were never out of the game. After 80 minutes it began to look like a goalless draw, when Michael Gravgaard tried to control a cornerkick from Lars Jacobsen and was brought down by Jukka Santala, who tried to clear the ball but hit Gravgaard instead. The referee didn't hesitate, but pointed to the spot, and André Bergdølmo stepped up to blast the penalty kick home.
Nordsjælland tried to produce an equaliser in the last 10 minutes, but Copenhagen kept them away from chances and ended up with the 3 points, that keep them on 4th place in the tight race in the top of the Superliga.
Michael Gravgaard will be suspended for the next Superliga-match on Saturday against FC Midtjylland. Before that, Copenhagen travel to Northern Jutland on wednesday for a cup tie against first division-side Thisted FC.
