FCK-Hammarby 4-0 (1-0)

With a deserved 4-0-victory over Hammarby IF, F.C. Copenhagen is definitely through to the quarter finals in Royal League.

 

Right from the first whistle you could see that the home team was far better prepared than the Suedes, as the Danish Superleague will begin in just two weeks, while there is still 6 weeks to the start of Swedish Allsvenskan. Furthermore Hammarby had outplayed their role in Royal League, while F.C. Copenhagen was certain to advance to the quarter finals, unless they lost the game with 5 goals…

 

After only 10 minutes Swedish international Marcus Allbäck showed no mercy on his fellow countrymen, when he gave Copenhagen the lead with a spectacular overhead-kick from the edge of the penalty area following a fine cross from Jesper Grønkjær. But the home team didn’t take advantage of the early lead, and Hammarby gradually came back into the game, although they never really threatened FCK-keeper Jesper Christiansen. The rather boring first half came to a very sad end, when Allbäck had to leave the pitch in pain. His left boot seemed to get stuck in the grass, which twisted his knee, and the first reports from the medical staff said that he will be sidelined for a at least a couple of weeks.

 

Thumbs up to the saluting fans, as "Mackan" has to leave the pitch with an injured knee

 

His replacement, Fredrik Berglund, nearly earned himself a penalty in the dying seconds of the first half, but the Norwegian referee waved "play on" and booked the astonished striker for diving…

 

But “Bella” got his revenge just after the break, when he scored twice within few minutes during a furious Copenhagen offensive. Atiba Hutchinson set up the first with a fine pass, and Silberbauer was the man behind the next one.

 

 

Fredrik "Bella" Berglund gets his second with a delicate chip

 

The home team couldn’t quite keep up the pace, even though Grønkjær added a fourth after 64 minutes. Actually, Ståle Solbakken was not over-enthusiastic on the following press-meeting, despite the convincing 4-0-victory. “Too much heel-and-toe and circus in the second half,” he analyzed and indicated that against a stronger team than Hammarby, it could have been another ballgame.

 

But apart from Allbäcks injury there was nothing serious to complain about on a night, when Copenhagen definitely placed their name in the hat for the quarter final-draw on Monday.

 

All photos ©Royal League - Per Kjærbye

 

Matchfacts:
F.C. COPENHAGEN-HAMMARBY IF 4-0 (1-0)
9.: 1-0 Marcus Allbäck
47.: 2-0 Fredrik Berglund
51.: 3-0 Fredrik Berglund
64.: 4-0 Jesper Grønkjær
Attendance: 7.139

 

F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen – Oscar Wendt, Brede Hangeland, Michael Gravgaard, Niclas Jensen – Jesper Grønkjær, William Kvist (46.: Hjalte Nørregaard), Michael Silberbauer (74.: Morten Bertolt), Atiba Hutchinson – Ailton Almeida, Marcus Allbäck (45.: Fredrik Berglund). (Un-used substitutes: Dan Thomassen, Jeppe Brandrup, Razak Pimpong, Thomas Villadsen)

 

Booking: Fredrik Berglund