FCK - Viborg 3-0 (2-0)
On a day where the other top teams stumbled one after one, F.C. Copenhagen increased the lead at the top of the table with their fifth consecutive win in the Super League.
A clear manifestation from the fans before the game: NO RACISM IN PARKEN!
Danish U21-midfielder William Kvist played from the start instead of Michael Silberbauer, but otherwise it was the same team that beat Randers last week and lost at Old Trafford at Tuesday. And just like in Randers central defender Michael Gravgaard gave the champions an early lead, when he outjumped Viborg defender Thomas Andie and headed home a corner from Lars Jacobsen in the 7th minute. Viborg, who ended on an impressive fourth place last season, is now struggling at the bottom of the table and missed several key players due to injuries, so this was not exactly the start they needed.
"Copenhagen Air Force" on target again
After around 15 minutes PARKEN shivered, as Marcus Allbäck and Thomas Andie accidentally collided and banged their heads together. Both had to receive treatment, first on the pitch for a minute or two, and afterwards in the dressing rooms, where they were sewn up and bandaged before they could return to the game after 10 minutes. During this period of 10 versus 10, Fredrik Berglund should have doubled the lead, when he was brilliantly played completely free by in-form-Atiba Hutchinson, but with only his fellow countryman John Alvbåge to beat, Berglund missed the target.
Apart from this golden opportunity Copenhagen didn’t quite make enough chances of their dominance in this phase of the game, and even though Viborg seldom tested the Copenhagen defence, they were never out of the game, but relied on fast breaks and deadballs. In the dying minutes of the first half, one of these deadballs gave Viborg-striker Lasse Kryger a good opportunity in the penalty area, but he collided with a teammate. Instead the home team cynically struck back: Lars Jacobsen found Berglund with a long pass, and he smartly took the ball past his opponent and served a perfect cross for Marcus Allbäck, which left Alvbåge completely stranded, and Allbäck could easily tap the ball into the empty net.
Ten minutes after the break, Copenhagen definitely settled the game, and again the energetic Berglund set up the goal. This time he controlled a Linderoth-corner and laid the ball neatly back to William Kvist, and even though he didn’t get a perfect hit, the ball found it’s way to the back of the net after being deflected by the unlucky Thomas Andie.
William Kvist and Marcus Allbäck celebrating
The rest of the game was only a question of how big the victory would be, and there were chances enough to at least a fourth and fifth goal. Hutchinson tested Alvbåge with a left-footer heading for the corner of the goal, but the buzy Suede pulled off yet another fine save. Berglund again served Allbäck with a fine cross, but with a lot of open goal to aim at, Allbäck managed to stear the ball just outside the far post with his bandaged head. Berglund himself could easily have scored once or twice in the second half, but eventually had to settle for the two fine assists. Hjalte Nørregaard also tried his luck as the game continued in a purely one way-direction, hammering a 25 meter-effort against the cross bar, but that was as close it came.
After an hour of dominance Ståle Solbakken had seized the opportunity to give Michael Gravgaard a rest and introduce 19 year-old Nikolaj Hansen, an upcoming talent, who normally plays for the reserve team in the second division and is also a Danish U20-international. He can look back on a fine and quiet league debut in the central defence along Brede Hangeland, who simply refused to loose a ball in the air this night. Later Allbäck and Berglund also were substituted with Martin Bergvold and Razak Pimpong.
Nikolaj Hansen applauding the fans for their support in his debut
A very convincing and deserved win was a reality long before the final whistle, and Copenhagen increased their lead at the top of the table to 4 points with a game in hand on the persecutors.
After the game Ståle Solbakken expressed his satisfaction with another powerful and concentrated performance by his players, especially because the team is in the middle of it’s first-ever participation in the Champions League group-stages.
F.C. Copenhagens next game is a real top clash in Odense at Wednesday night, when they visit OB, who in spite of losing to Midtjylland this weekend is still second in the table.
All photos by Carl Redhead
Matchfacts:
F.C. Copenhagen-Viborg 3-0 (2-0)
7.: 1-0 Michael Gravgaard
45.: 2-0 Marcus Allbäck
51.: 3-0 own goal (Thomas Andie)
Attendance: 18.109
F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen – Lars Jacobsen, Brede Hangeland, Michael Gravgaard (60.: Nikolaj Hansen), Oscar Wendt – William Kvist, Tobias Linderoth, Hjalte Nørregaard, Atiba Hutchinson – Fredrik Berglund (77.: Razak Pimpong), Marcus Allbäck (72.: Martin Bergvold). (Unused substitutes: Benny Gall, Michael Silberbauer)
Booked: Martin Åslund and Christopher Poulsen, Viborg
