FCK held 1-1 at home

06/05 2012 20:09

FC Copenhagen went into their crucial clash with OB level on points at the top of the Superliga, following FC Nordsjælland’s win over Lyngby BK earlier in the day. With both teams on 61 points, Carsten V. Jensen’s men knew victory was essential in the chase for the title.

by Joe Short

A stuttering opening quarter of an hour saw few chances for either side, although Pierre Bengtsson could have done more with a skied effort from the edge of the OB box on three minutes, while at the other end Johan Wiland managed to stick a leg out to block a long throw-in from creeping into the net.

After a period of prolonged FCK possession, Odense winger Rúrik Gíslason nipped free of Christian Grindheim to shoot from just outside the area. His curling effort left Wiland rooted to the spot, but sailed narrowly wide of the left-hand post. On 27 minutes Gíslason was offered another chance to score, this time slicing his volley high over the crossbar after a half-cleared corner.

Another patiently worked attack resulted in Bryan Oviedo finding the side netting after being played through by Bengtsson on the left wing, but it was OB who had the best chance of the half. With five minutes before the break, Morten Skoubo won a 50-50 aerial challenge with Ragnar Sigurdsson and nutmegged Kriss Stadgaard to find himself one-on-one with Wiland. The Swedish keeper did well to get down to his left and block Skoubo’s shot, keeping the scores level.

Skoubo chips OB in front

No changes were made to CV’s side at half time, but the game restarted with a certain zest that was lacking in the first. Oviedo sent an effort into the stands on 47 minutes, while Claudemir could have done better with a weak shot from outside the box. Nine minutes later and Dame N’Doye got his first sniff at goal, a long-range effort well saved by Wessels.

Just before the hour mark Skoubo gave Stadgaard the slip to free up space outside the box, but the Icelandic defender did enough to deflect the eventual shot wide for a corner. But Skoubo would come to open the scoring moments later, when he rounded off a clinical OB counter attack, dinking over the advancing Wiland after beating the offside trap.

Copenhagen almost equalised seconds after the restart, when Oviedo chipped through N’Doye on the right side of the OB box, but the striker’s shot dribbled wide of the far post. Substitute Martin Vingaard saw a free kick attempt deflected by the wall on 75 minutes as FCK turned up the pressure.

FCK awarded penalty

With eight minutes to go the Lions finally equalised, thanks to top scorer N’Doye from the penalty spot. Anders Møller Christensen brought down the Senegalese as the pair contested for a high ball in the box. Christensen recived a yellow card and N’Doye stepped up himself to lash the ball past Wessels, almost breaking the net.

At 1-1 Copenhagen went full out looking for a late winner. Three minutes remaining and substitute Morten Nordstrand thought he’d found it when Christian Bolaños’ effort bounced up to the striker in front of goal, but Wessels pulled off a wonderful save to stop the header. N’Doye then had a chance at the far post, heading a long cross wide of goal.

Nordstrand had one final effort flung over the bar while Claudemir had to prevent OB winning at the death, before referee Ken Hansen brought a tight game to a close. Copenhagen’s lead at the top of the Superliga in now just one point. The Lions now have a week to prepare for their next game, an away clash against SønderjyskE at 16:00 next Sunday.

FC COPENHAGEN: 1 OB: 1

FC Copenhagen: Wiland(C), Jacobsen, Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Grindheim, Claudemir, Bolaños, Oviedo, Santin, N’Doye.

OB: Wessels, Ruud, Høegh, Christensen, Kadrii, Gîslason, Traore, Djemba-Djemba, Mendy, Falk, Skoubo.

Goals: Skoubo, OB (62’), N’Doye (82’ pen.)

Referee: Kenn Hansen.