FCK lose 4-2 to drop out of Cup
After having played three games within a week, head coach Ståle Solbakken decided to bring in major changes to his squad for FCK’s fourth round tie against AC Horsens in the Ekstra Bladet Cup. Only Mathais Zanka kept his place in the first XI, moving to right back to accommodate Peter Larsson for his first start of the season.
by Joe Short
Jesper Grønkjær, having been rested for the weekend trip to Silkeborg, was handed a place up front, as Hjalte Nørregaard and Thomas Kristensen retained their usual central midfield pairing. Up front, striker Cesar Santin was unavailable due to a twisted ankle picked up on Sunday, while Dame’s N’Doye was rested having played almost all previous matches for the Lions this campaign.
The match began slowly, with neither side looking likely to threaten either goal. Kristensen was the first to create a goalscoring chance, but his shot flew high over the crossbar. Kenneth Zohore then pushed forward on a solo run to the edge of the Horsens box, but his pass back failed to reach Grønkjær.
In the 11th minute Larsson was booked for wrestling Gilberto Macena to the floor, yet Horsens failed to take advantage of the resulting free kick. Indeed, a succession of efforts from both sides followed, none of them worrying either goalkeeper. After half an hour Horsens finally broke the deadlock, thanks to a neat one-two between Thomas Kortegaard and Janus Drauchmann. The result saw Drauchmann in on goal, but Kim Christensen was there to block the run. However, the ball spilled back out wide to Kortegaard, who finished well at a tight angle to put his side 1-0 in front.
Wonder volley draws scores level
After the goal Horsens controlled play, and some beautiful skill by Macena created a goalmouth scramble that almost forced a second. However, it was FCK who struck next. In the 35th minutes Zohore held the ball up well with his back to goal, and eventually play was spread wide left to Grønkjær. The cross evaded everyone bar Kristensen, who waited at the far edge of the penalty area to rocket a volley past Søren Jochumsen to equalise for the Lions.
Copenhagen became more confident after the goal, and began pushing their opponents’ defensive line back deep into their own half. However, their spell of possession lead to nothing, as Horsens regained the lead just before half time. A free kick from the left was flicked on by Jimmy Mayasi; and Morten Rasmussen was on hand to prod in at the back post to make it 2-1 to the away side.
The second half started much more brightly, with FCK showing more confidence going forward. Thomas Delaney’s chip over the Horsens defence almost played Zohore through, and minutes later the striker was allowed to turn on the edge of the area and shoot left footed low into Jochumsen’s arms.
Neat passing opens up FCK defence
The goalkeeper was on his toes to splendidly save a Grønkjær header sooner afterwards, which proved vital as on the hour mark Horsens made it 3-1. Another quick one-two, this time between Kortegaard and Mayasi, played the former through; and was subsequently fouled in the area. Niels Lodberg converted the penalty low to the right: Christensen diving the opposite direction.
It could have been four shortly after, had it not been for the legs of Christensen. Larsson, in an endeavour to keep the ball from going for a Horsens corner, played it straight into the path of Mayasi in the 6-yard box. The striker couldn’t get past the FCK stopper however.
Lions force way back into game
The defending Cup champions switched to a 3-5-2 formation with 25 minutes remaining: substitute Claudemir filling in at the back when necessary. Formations played no part in a Zohore solo counter attack however. The striker ran almost the entire length of the field with the ball following a Horsens corner kick – staving off numerous challenges – but his left footed shot whistled narrowly wide of the far right hand post, much to the agony of the fans behind the goal.
After a 15-man scramble in the Horsens penalty area on 70 minutes, FCK grabbed a goal back. Substitute Morten Nordstrand did well to wriggle out of a challenge and regain possession, quickly spreading play to the right wing. The subsequent cross was met by Sölvi Ottesen’s head. Jochumsen saved the first effort, but was helpless to prevent Zanka sliding in almost on the goal line to force the ball into the net, narrowing the Horsens goal cushion to one.
Heavy pressure all to no avail
Cries of “Attack, Attack, Attack” ran out through PARKEN as Copenhagen flew forward in droves. Zohore began holding the ball up well, sometimes with three defenders surrounding the striker. After Claudemir sent a well-placed left-footed volley looping towards Jochumsen’s net – which was stylishly tipped wide by the goalkeeper – it seemed only a matter of time before the home side would get level again. However, with nine minutes remaining Horsens wrapped up the victory, making it 4-2 to the away side, after Macena beat the offside trap and slotted in past the helpless Christensen.
The final minutes gently ticked down without much incident. Nordstrand shot over the bar, while Zanka’s header in the 89th minute flew far wide of the Horsens goal. After three minutes of stoppage time the referee brought a cold Copenhagen night to a close, condemning FCK to a fourth round elimination from the Ekstra Bladet Cup.
FC COPENHAGEN: 2 AC HORSENS: 4
FC Copenhagen: Christensen, Zanka, Ottesen, Larsson, Oviedo, Frederiksen, Norregaard (C), Kristensen, Delaney, Grønkjær, Zohore.
AC Horsens: Jochumsen (GK), Rasmussen, Aslam, Jepsen, Macena, Spelmann, Lodberg (C), Kortegaard, Mayasi, Drachmann, Augustsson.
Referee: Kenn Hansen
Goals: Kortegaard, AC Horsens (30’), Kristensen (35’), Rasmussen, AC Horsens (42’), Lodberg – pen., AC Horsens (’60), Zanka (72’), Macena, AC Horsens (82’).
Booked: Nørregaard
