FCK hit high five past Køge
Head coach Carsten V. Jensen welcomed back Superliga top scorer Dame N’Doye to the his starting XI following suspension, as FC Copenhagen looked to maintain their six-point lead over FC Nordsjælland at the top of the table.
by Joe Short
The Lions last travelled to HB Køge way back in August, where over 6,500 fans witnessed a six-goal thriller at the SEAS-NVE Park. Incidentally, the last time Anders Hermansen officiated a tie between these two sides in 2009, FCK ran out 7-1 victors. In that game Køge took an early lead, and could have done here had Bo Storm managed to steer a close-range header on target after three minutes.
In fact, it was FCK who took the early initiative, mainly due to determined work down the right flank from Christian Bolaños on five minutes. Having skinned Andreas Sørensen, Bolaños’ cross was eventually cleared, but fell to Thomas Kristensen, who side-footed the ball neatly past Morten Jensen from the edge of the penalty box for 1-0.
Eight minutes later and Pape Pate Diouf came close to doubling FCK’s lead after connecting with an audacious overhead kick following an aerial challenge with right-back Ronnie Bendtsen. Bolaños also had an effort from distance comfortably saved in the opening throes.
Køge down to ten men
Mid-way through the first half and FCK were flooding into Køge’s box. Jensen prevented César Santin from scoring, charging down the striker as he broke clear of the defence, while Diouf saw a headed attempt dribble wide of the left-hand post. Copenhagen were looking dangerous especially down the right, peppering the Køge box with crosses.
The first half, although packed with chances, was not played in a particularly feisty spirit. Therefore, there was real shock in the stadium on 30 minutes when Hermansen walked over to a crowded FCK penalty box and brandished the red card to Ade Runsewe. The winger appeared to raise his hand to Bryan Oviedo’s neck, enough for the referee to send him off.
While Køge were still recuperating, FCK went on the attack. In the 37th minute N’Doye found space on the edge of the box to shoot low at Jensen. The ball spilled under the keeper, but he did enough to bat it away before Santin could slide in. Thomas Guldborg then intercepted a tantalising Bolaños cross before Santin could reach it two minutes later.
Santin header doubles the lead
The half-time break did little to change the flow of the game, with Copenhagen immediately out of the blocks after the restart. The strong relationship between Bolaños and right-back Lars Jacobsen flourished, both overlapping each other at various times down the right wing. It was the left-winger Diouf who had the first chance of the half however: shooting low but at Jensen following a neat Santin lay off.
The second goal FCK had been pushing for finally came on the hour mark. N’Doye played Oviedo free on the left wing, the Costa Rican looping a high ball into the area. It dipped between two Køge defenders where Santin stood waiting to nod past Jensen in front of an excited Lions crowd behind the net.
Santin’s effort showed FCK’s attacking power, and suddenly the floodgates were opened. On 64 minutes Ragnar Sigurdsson beat both Kronborg and Bendtsen at the far post to head in Oviedo’s deep corner, but the effort was chalked off for a foul. But it was 3-0 seven minutes later, again from a corner. This time, Oviedo’s ball went to the near post where the Lions’ other Icelander – Sölvi Ottesen – headed in unchallenged.
Abdellaoue claims first FCK goal
Ottesen came close again in the 77th minute, contesting a high ball with Jensen, but the centre-back’s header looped over. However, moments later and substitute Mos Abdellaoue tapped in FCK’s fourth – and his first ever for the club – following a quick counter attack from Bolaños down the right, who squared to the striker in front of the net.
The goals didn’t stop there, with N’Doye determined to get on the scoresheet. Rarely do FCK score five without the Senegalese front man bagging at least one, and he came as close as you can get three minutes before time. An initial low effort bounced off the post back into N’Doye’s path, but even his second attempt failed to cross the line thanks to the agile Jensen. Diouf was there however to poke in the loose ball, showing his countryman how it’s done.
The 5-0 final score may look one-sided, but Køge’s earlier red card must be taken into account. Playing with ten men for almost an hour eventually took its toll on the Jutland side, who eventually buckled under the persistence of CV’s in-form men.
Up next is a home clash with SønderjyskE in the semi finals of the DBU Cup on Wednesday. Tickets are available at Billetlugen.dk.
HB KØGE: 0 FC COPENHAGEN: 5
HB Køge: Jensen, Sørensen, Hansen, Guldborg, Bendtson, Sorensen, Kronborg, Rømer, Runsewe, Christensen, Storm.
FC Copenhagen: Wiland(C), Jacobsen, Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Kristensen, Grindheim, Bolaños, Diouf, Santin, N’Doye.
Goals: Kristensen (6’), Santin (59’), Ottesen (71’), Abdellaoue (77’),Diouf (88’).
Referee: Anders Hermansen.
