FCK-Helsingborgs IF 3-1 (3-1)

With a comfortable 3-1-win over Helsingborgs IF, F.C. Copenhagen qualified for their third consecutive Royal League-final. Two goals from Berglund and one from Ailton in a very entertaining first half was enough.

 

Without the injured Tobias Linderoth and Marcus Allbäck and the suspended Jesper Grønkjær, Ståle Solbakken also chose to rest Michael Silberbauer, Brede Hangeland and Niclas Jensen - still the team was strong enough to set Helsingborg under pressure right from the start. And within 15 minutes, Swedish striker Fredrik Berglund had struck twice against his fellow countrymen, both times by hammering the ball home in the far corner of the net!

 

 

Fredrik "Bella" Berglund celebrating with Pimpong and Ailton

 

 

Helsingborg quickly pulled one back following a rare mistake by Jesper Christiansen, who misjudged a corner, and Andreas Jakobsson promptly punished him by heading the ball over the line.

 

Copenhagen still dominated the game and produced a lot of good chances, and around the half hour, the Swedish keeper Daniel Andersson had to produce a spectacular safe to deny Dan Thomassen the third goal. A few minutes later Copenhagen was awarded a penalty, when Jakobsson - right in front of the referee - pulled Gravgaard's jersey during a set piece. However, Ailton missed the golden opportunity, when Daniel Andersson blocked his weak effort from the spot.

 

A few minutes later Ailton revenged himself, when Oscar Wendt sent a freekick into the area, and the Brazilian striker smartly flicked the ball over the line with his head.

 

 

Payback-time as "Bella" celebrates Ailton

 

 

After the break the pace and intensity fell, and after 68 minutes Helsingborg made it more than difficult for themselves, when Tamboura was booked twice within four minutes and subsequently had to take an early bath, while his 10 teammates struggled in vain to get back into the game.

 

Copenhagen is ready for the third consecutive Royal League-final and it is certain to be an all-Danish affair, as Brøndby and Odense meet in the other semifinal.

 

All photos: ©Royal League - Per Kjærbye

 

Matchfacts:
F.C. COPENHAGEN-HELSINGBORGS IF 3-1 (3-1)
6.: 1-0 Fredrik Berglund
15: 2-0 Fredrik Berglund
19.: 2-1 Andreas Jakobsson
34.: 3-1 Ailton Almeida
Attendance: 6.642

F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen - Lars Jacobsen, Michael Gravgaard, Dan Thomassen (46.: Brede Hangeland), Oscar Wendt - Atiba Hutchinson, Hjalte Nørregaard, William Kvist, Razak Pimpong - Ailton Almeida (46.: Jeppe Brandrup), Fredrik Berglund (68.: Morten Bertolt). (Un-used substitutes: Thomas Villadsen, Niclas Jensen, Michael Silberbauer, Lasse Qvist)