First-half rout seals victory
by Joe Short
César Santin scored after just 38 seconds as FC Copenhagen beat Viborg FF 4-1 in PARKEN on their return to domestic football.
The Brazilian chipped the goalkeeper almost from kick-off before Igor Vetokele netted twice, either side of Viborg’s Thomas Dalgaard, during a frenetic opening period.
Youssef Toutouh scored his third goal of the season with a header in the second half and went close with a half volley as Copenhagen moved up to third in the Superliga.
Santin pounces immediately
Head coach Ståle Solbakken handed Youssef Toutouh an unfamiliar start in central midfield as César Santin and Igor Vetokele took their positions up front. It took just 38 seconds for the strike partnership to yield a goal when Vetokele immediately dispossessed Dalgaard, passed to Santin in the area who then exquisitely dinked the ball over the goalkeeper for 1-0.
PARKEN had barely settled down before the fans were back on their feet, this time celebrating Vetokele’s third goal in two games. The Belgian headed Pierre Bengtsson’s looping delivery past goalkeeper Michal Peskovic and into the net moments after Olof Mellberg had rode his luck with a clear handball in the FCK penalty area.
Copenhagen’s dream start was stifled somewhat on 24 minutes when Viborg halved the deficit with their first real opening of the game. Dalgaard used his strength to wriggle past FCK’s central defenders Ragnar Sigurdsson and Olof Mellberg and calmly slot in beside Johan Wiland for his 11th goal of the season.
Vetokele adds a third before half time
Yet just as quickly as Viborg got back into the game they conceded a third, when defender Mikkel Rask headed the ball over his own goalkeeper from Mellberg’s long punt forward. Vetokele pounced on the free ball to head home his second from a yard out.
Vetokele’s strike settled the rhythm as FCK stepped back and afforded Viborg more space in midfield. Rurik Gislason was upended on the right corner of the box two minutes before half time but referee Peter Rasmussen waved away claims from the FCK winger as the first period ended 3-1.
Early in the second half Toutouh capitalised on a Viborg error but could only fire a 20-yard effort narrowly wide of Peskovic’s right-hand post. On 56 minutes Mellberg had a golden opportunity to make it four but the defender thumped a volley over the bar from eight yards after Jørgensen had nodded down Toutouh’s smart free kick.
Toutouh makes it 4-1
Ståle made two substitutions as the game ticked past the hour mark, Thomas Kristensen and Marvin Pourie entering the field for Santin and Vetokele. The changes worked with instant effect as Toutouh converted Lars Jacobsen’s cross from the right with a powerful header across the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner for his third strike of the campaign.
With 19 minutes remaining Gislason gave way for Danny Amankwaa and the winger was utilised down the left flank as FCK searched for a fifth, Jacobsen hitting the side netting 10 minutes later. Viborg threatened on occasion late on while Thomas Delaney fired a ranged effort inches over the crossbar before Rasmussen brought proceedings to a close on a bitterly cold night in PARKEN.
Up next for Copenhagen is a trip to Turin for their fifth group game of the UEFA Champions League, against Juventus, before it’s back to the Danish capital for a New Firm clash with Brøndby.
FC COPENHAGEN: 4 VIBORG FF: 1
FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen, Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Gislason, Toutouh, Delaney, Jørgensen, Santin, Vetokele.
Viborg FF: Peskovic, Thorsen, Rask, Ogunbiyi, Gotfredsen, Jensen, Rømer, Hagen, Nagel, Lerager, Dalgaard.
Goals: Santin (1’), Vetokele (8’, 26’), Dalgaard, Viborg FF (24), Toutouh (69’).
Referee: Peter Rasmussen.
