Germans take three points in PARKEN

04/11 2011 00:48

The Germans came out in full force on Thursday as Hannover 96 travelled to PARKEN for a crucial Group B game in the UEFA Europa League. Roland Nilsson's FC Copenhagen side will have been buoyed by wins against OB and Brøndby leading up to the clash, with all to play for in a tricky European fixture.

by Joe Short

With the Hannover supporters filling their section and spilling into the C Stand upper tier, PARKEN was awash with noise and colour when the teams entered the field. Both started the game hesitantly, maybe in mind of the expectation of such an atmospheric crowd, and apart from a harmless Christian Bolaños header, neither team created much in the opening stages.

Bolaños did manage to wriggle away from two men on 20 minutes, and surged down the flank to square to César Santin. The Brazilian aimed a deft chip over Emanuel Pogatetz, but the defender's chin got in the way of his effort.

In the midst of the half the Germans began to venture up the field and forced a couple of corners, which failed to lead to anything but a Johnny Thomsen bloody nose for blocking a long-range shot with his face.

N'Doye pounces for 1-0

The home side forced their way back into the game however, utilising determined wing backs to stretch play. Thomsen delivered a decent ball across goal on the half hour, which goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler parried. However, Santin was agonisingly inches away from reaching to loose ball.

Shortly after the break Hannover brought on Konstantin Rausch, who came close with a free kick moments after entering the field, striking the edge of Johan Wiland's post. Thomas Kristensen looked to retaliate by stamping his authority in the midfield, but Hannover were savvy to his forward balls, often cutting them short.

It was not until the 67th minute that the first goal was finally scored, and what a fine finish with was. An in-swinging Bolaños corner missed everyone at the near post, but was bundled clear by a flailing Hannover leg. The ball didn't go far, as Dame N'Doye circled the far post and struck home the loose ball through a rabble of players to give FCK a 1-0 lead.

Hannover stun FCK in three minutes

The celebrations didn't last long however, as Hannover struck back five minutes after the restart. A weak cross from Sofian Chahed was cleared by the FCK defence, only for the ball to fall to Jan Schlaudraff, who thundered in the equaliser with a low drive.

It was clear the Germans' weren't going to be satisfied with a point, and they were soon on the attack again. Two minutes after Schlaudraff's strike, Manuel Schmiedebach hit Wiland's crossbar, yet seconds later the ball was nestled in the Swedish keeper's net, Lars Stindl having put the away side 2-1 up.

Stindl would come close again moments after his goal, but hit the side netting as FCK looked shaken by the sudden turn around. Nilsson made a double substitution, bringing on Martin Bergvold and Morten Nordstrand. However, even with this attacking switch the Lions couldn't create any threatening chances.

Johan Absalonsen replaced Pape Pate Diouf, yet Copenhagen still couldn't muster a notable effort before referee Eric Braamhaar brought proceedings to a close. With two games remaining, FCK face an uphill battle to secure a spot in the knock out stage of the Europa League. The Lions are four points behind Hannover now, with a victory over Vorskla in Ukraine at the end of the month of the up-most importance.

FC COPENHAGEN: 1 HANNOVER 96: 2

FC Copenhagen: Wiland (C), Thomsen, Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Diouf, Kristensen, Bolaños, Grindheim, Santin, N'Doye.

Hannover 96: Zieler, Haggui, Pogatetz, Pinto, Schlaudraff, Schultz (C), Chahed, Pander, Abdellaoue, Stindl, Schmiedebach.

Goals: N'Doye (67'), Schlaudraff, Hannover 96 (71'), Stindl, Hannover 96 (74').

Referee: Eric Braamhaar (NED).