FCK top group with 2-1 win
FC Copenhagen went top of Group E after they beat Molde FK 2-1 in the UEFA Europa League. Andreas Cornelius scored a second-half winner to claim three points for the Lions in PARKEN.
by Joe Short
With Johan Wiland still out injured Kim Christensen earned his first European cap for FC Copenhagen while Christian Bolaños settled out on the right wing in place of Thomas Delaney. Molde, who started out in a 4-1-4-1 formation, played Lions loanee Pape Pate Diouf up front against his parent club.
FCK held their own in the opening froes and attacked Molde’s goal from the start. On six minutes Lars Jacobsen came close to earning himself a 33rd-birthday goal but his low shot flew narrowly wide of Espen Bugge Pettersen’s right post.
Seven minutes later and Cornelius came close with a header after Claudemir had set Pierre Bengtsson free down the left flank to cross in a tantalising ball, but the striker could not direct his effort towards goal. At the other end Davy Angan had a half chance but did nothing to threaten Christensen in net.
Claudemir makes it 1-0
Twenty minutes in and FCK took the lead thanks to Claudemir’s quick thinking. Jacobsen and Bolaños exchanged passes before firing the ball square into the box where César Santin lurked. Santin could only tumble into the goal as the ball spilled out of the box where Claudemir picked it up and neatly converted to hand Copenhagen a 1-0 lead.
There were grumblings of discontent in the Molde team as Santin appeared to be in an offside position while Claudemir converted, but Finnish official Antti Munukka judged the Brazilian was not interfering with play.
Nicolai Jørgensen, who set up Bengtsson for a great chance on 25 minutes, shortly had to come off with injury and Martin Vingaard took up left wing duties. Cornelius watched another header bounce wide on the half hour as Molde solidified their defence following the opening goal.
Diouf strikes back to level
As half time was upon PARKEN, Molde suddenly struck an equaliser when Diouf showed his reactionary talents to smash home Jo Inge Berget’s assist and bring the scores level 1-1.
Molde were suddenly in the fight again and they came out for the second half a rejuvenated side. Jacobsen came close to conceding a penalty early on when he entangled himself with Diouf but the referee waived play-on, and just after the hour mark Christensen had to get down well to stop a mazy Etzaz Hussain dribble.
Head coach Ariel Jacobs made another change mid-way through the half, sending Igor Vetokele on for Santin as Molde gradually withdrew into their defence. Twenty minutes from time Thomas Kristensen was gifted a great opportunity after Cornelius had burst forward but TK sent the ball high over the crossbar.
Team goal ensures Copenhagen victory!
The chance was a signal of the Lions’ intent and moments later Copenhagen were 2-1 up thanks to the unselfish Vetokele. Vingaard started the move with a cross from the right side of the field to Vetokele, who, instead of shooting on site squared to Cornelius for a simple tap in a few yards out.
Three minutes later Mattias Moström blocked Ragnar Sigurdsson’s header off the line following a corner and soon afterwards only a quick Pettersen save prevented Bolaños rounding off a flowing FCK move.
As the game entered injury time the Lions continued their efforts for a third goal, Cornelius pulling his shot wide after Claudemir had jinked his way forward. Seconds before the whistle PARKEN fell silent as Diouf almost pinched an equaliser at the death when he burst through the FCK back line with the ball. Christensen was alert however and smothered the threat at Diouf’s feet before the Senegalese could convert.
FCK sit top of their Europa League group after Stuttgart and Steaua Bucharest drew 2-2 on Thursday evening. Next up for Jacobs’ side is a trip to Steaua, on 4 October.
FC COPENHAGEN: 2 MØLDE FK: 1
FC Copenhagen: Christensen, Jacobsen (C), Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Blaños, Claudemir, Kristensen, Jørgensen, Santin, Cornelius.
Mølde FK: Pettersen, Vatshaug, Forren, Hestad (C), Moström, Hoseth, Berget, Linnes, Angan, Rindarøy, Diouf.
Goals: Claudemir (20’), Diouf, Mølde FK (45+1’), Cornelius (74’).
Referee: Antti Munukka (FIN).
Photo: Sportsagency.dk
