FCK v FCM ends goalless

18/03 2012 22:55

Head coach Carsten V. Jensen made just one change to his starting XI that overcame SønderjyskE 2-0 last weekend, Christian Grindheim replacing Martin Vingaard in the centre of the park for the visit of FC Midtjylland.

by Joe Short

With 21 goals between them, FCK strikers Dame N’Doye and César Santin maintained their places in the spearhead of attack. The first chance of the game fell to Santin in 12 minutes, after a long Grindheim ball played the striker through. With Jonas Lössl running out, Santin attempted the audacious lob that bobbled wide of the goal.

Dame N’Doye came close to connecting with a low cross moments later, before a defensive mix-up at the other end almost saw Jude Nworuh open the scoring. A short back pass to Johan Wiland let the FCM striker get in front of the goalkeeper’s clearance. Luckily for Wiland the ball rebounded wide of the left-hand post.

FCK had a quick retreat to make on 26 minutes when Lars Jacobsen lost possession in midfield following a short Sölvi Ottesen pass. Rilwan Hassan turned immediately to take on the last Copenhagen man, but in shifting right gave Thomas Delaney time to track back and wipe clear the threat. Delaney was on hand again to block an Izunna Uzochukwu effort two minutes later.

Bolaños can’t force deadlock

The handful of chances spurred FCM on to take the majority of possession in the remainder of the first half. A regimented and retentive midfield meant Copenhagen were forced to play on the counter attack to find chances. Bryan Oviedo battled hard on the left wing to send a deep cross in on 41 minutes, but Lössl was quick to punch the ball away.

With no changes made at the break, both sides came out in much the same manner as they went in. Sylvester Igboun intercepted a stray Christian Bolaños pass but fired wide. Moments later and Santin turned his man to find space on the edge of the FCM area, struck the target with his effort but also found Lössl waiting to collect.

On 57 minutes Bolaños collected a long cross deep on the edge of the FCM box, controlled on his chest, beat two men cutting inside but unfortunately shot directly at the goalkeeper. Copenhagen were working their way into the game, but could have gone a goal behind had Hassan gone to ground following a risky challenge in the box from Jacobsen.

Tough defending restricts chances

Just after the hour mark substitute Vingaard had a golden chance to give Copenhagen the lead. N’Doye dummied a pass for Santin to collect. The striker turned to play Vingaard through on the left side of the area, but the winger failed to beat Lössl.

While Vingaard missed Copenhagen’s best effort, Danny Olsen squandered the opportunity of the game for FCM. Ten minutes before the final whistle Jacob Poulsen whipped a free kick to the midfielder who headed across goal looking for a team-mate to tap home. None came and the Lions fans could breathe a sigh of relief.

Olsen’s chance was to be the last significant occurrence in a tough game where both defences looked solid. Although only recording a point, FCK stretched their lead at the top of the Danish Superliga to five, with sixth-place Silkeborg next up for CV’s team.

FC COPENHAGEN: 0 FC MIDTJYLLAND: 0

FC Copenhagen: Wiland(C), Jacobsen, Ottesen, Stadsgaard, Oviedo, Claudemir, Grindheim, Bolaños, Delaney, Santin, N’Doye.

FC Midtjylland: Lössl, Lauridsen, Sviatchenko, Afriyie, Julesgaard, Uzochukwu, Hassan, Poulsen, Olsen, Nworuh, Igboun.

Referee: Michael Tykgaard.