FCK put three past rivals

27/10 2011 23:46

FC Copenhagen had to contend with three injured absentees for their away trip to Brøndby Stadium in the fourth round of the DBU Cup. Claudemir, Thomas Delaney and Johan Absalonsen all failed fitness tests, but the game did see a return to the substitute bench for Martin Vingaard.

by Joe Short

Vingaard had been on the sidelines since rupturing his knee ligaments against Chelsea last season, and it was a welcome sign to see him back in around the first team. Martin Bergvold was handed a place in the centre of the park, with Bryan Oviedo starting at left back while Kim Christensen got his first start of the season in goal.

It was Brøndby IF who created the first meaningful chance on eight minutes, after Martin Bernburg got on the end of a Dennis Rommedahl cross, but Christensen blocked the striker’s effort.

FCK then settled down, controlling possession without threatening the Brøndby goal, and importantly keeping a tight leash on Rommedahl. But it would take almost half an hour for the next real chance to arise, this time at the other end. Dame N’Doye broke free of Daniel Stenderup but his angled shot failed to scare goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard.

Diouf fires FCK ahead

Although the chance was harmless, it provided FCK with a boost to surge forward, and the game tipped to their advantage. Eight minutes before the break Pape Pate Diouf opened the scoring when Falkesgaard failed to clear his lines, the ball spilling to the Senegalese who slammed it home to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Copenhagen’s tails were up, and they were soon on the attack again: only a neat challenge from Clarence Goodson preventing César Santin. However, a minute before the break FCK struck once more. N’Doye played a one-two with Santin, who backheeled his pass back to the striker. Last season’s top scorer needed no second chances as he slotted the ball past Falkesgaard for 2-0.

A two-goal lead is still a dangerous one, and one could be justified in expecting BIF to come out fighting in the second half. However, on their first meaningful attack after the break FCK scored a third. Sölvi Ottesen broke free of his marker in the Brøndby penalty area as Oviedo swung in a corner from the right. The Icelander rose high above his teammates to head FCK 3-0 up in front of a raucous Lions support.

Bengtsson rides rash challenge

The Copenhagen offensive continued for ten minutes after the goal, and bar a couple of good half-chances the game began to slow down. Head coach Roland Nilsson swapped Santin with Morten Nordstrand, while Pierre Bengtsson came on for Christian Bolaños, pushing Oviedo up field.

In the final stages of the game Bengtsson found himself in a problematic position, when Jens Stryger threw himself into the legs of the Swede, and it looked as though referee Kenn Hansen was about to show the BIF man a red card. However, the culprit got off lightly with a warning, while Bengtsson himself was able to get up and carry on.

Brøndby did manage one final fling at goal, but none of three players were able to make sufficient contact with a loose ball in Christensen’s box. The final whistle brought cheers from the extended away end, plus the relief of an end to a three-game run without a win for Roland Nilsson’s side. Next up is a trip to Odense on Sunday, before FCK greet Hannover 96 in PARKEN.

BRØNDBY IF: 0 FC COPENHAGEN: 3

Brøndby IF: Falkesgaard, Nilsson, Goodson, Stenderup, Frederiksen, Rommedahl, Thygesen, Kristiansen, Krohn-Dehli, Bernburg, Gehrt.

FC Copenhagen: Christensen, Thomsen, Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Bolaños, Bergvold, Kristensen, Diouf, Santin, N’Doye.

Goals: Diouf (37’), N’Doye (44’), Ottesen (52’).

Referee: Kenn Hansen.