Good result in first leg
09/03 2017 23:55
Anything can happen, but this time FC Copenhagen don't have to win in the return leg! When FCK and Ajax met in 2001 and 2006, the first leg in Copenhagen ended 0-0 and 1-2, but still the Lions managed to win in Amsterdam and eliminate AFC Ajax from European competitions.
This time it will also be a tight and exciting return leg, but at least FCK can settle for a draw after the 2-1-victory on Thursday night.
Rasmus Falk gave the Danes a perfect start with a goal after just 28 seconds, when William Kvist caught the Dutch defence off guard and found him with a fine chip in the penalty area. Falk took his time and hammered the ball into the far side of the goal.
However, the home team couldn't profit from the stunning opening, and Ajax dominated the next 15-20 minutes, before FCK got hold of the play and began to create chances. Youssef Toutouh went very close after a long throw-in from Kvist, and Federico Santander had a good chance following a big mistake from Jeroen Verhoeven.
But the goal came at the other end of the pitch, when Ajax managed to draw the Danish defenders out of position, and Kasper Dolberg became the first player to score against Robin Olsen in Telia Parken in Europe season - after seven clean sheets in a row!
Ajax dominated the beginning of the second half and looked the better team, until FCK suddenly scored almost out of nothing. Peter Ankersen raced past Daley Sinkgraven on the right side and clipped in a perfect cross, when Andreas Cornelius timed his run in the box perfectly and headed it home!
That changed the game, and now FCK dominated and could have got a third goal. But towards the end, Ajax desperately tried to get the equaliser, and Robin Olsen had to make a great save, when Davy Klaassen finished in the box. Dolberg actually got the ball in the net again, but it was disallowed, because he fouled Uros Matic on his way.
FCK manager Ståle Solbakken summed it up afterwards, saying: "2-1 was a deserved victory, but 3-1 would have been too much. I'm are very satisfied with the game, but I've always said that it will be totally open until then last minute of the return leg."
Both captains, FCK's Mathias Zanka Jørgensen and Klaassen of Ajax, were booked today and will be suspended for the return leg next on Thursday in Amsterdam.
This time it will also be a tight and exciting return leg, but at least FCK can settle for a draw after the 2-1-victory on Thursday night.
Rasmus Falk gave the Danes a perfect start with a goal after just 28 seconds, when William Kvist caught the Dutch defence off guard and found him with a fine chip in the penalty area. Falk took his time and hammered the ball into the far side of the goal.
However, the home team couldn't profit from the stunning opening, and Ajax dominated the next 15-20 minutes, before FCK got hold of the play and began to create chances. Youssef Toutouh went very close after a long throw-in from Kvist, and Federico Santander had a good chance following a big mistake from Jeroen Verhoeven.
But the goal came at the other end of the pitch, when Ajax managed to draw the Danish defenders out of position, and Kasper Dolberg became the first player to score against Robin Olsen in Telia Parken in Europe season - after seven clean sheets in a row!
Ajax dominated the beginning of the second half and looked the better team, until FCK suddenly scored almost out of nothing. Peter Ankersen raced past Daley Sinkgraven on the right side and clipped in a perfect cross, when Andreas Cornelius timed his run in the box perfectly and headed it home!
That changed the game, and now FCK dominated and could have got a third goal. But towards the end, Ajax desperately tried to get the equaliser, and Robin Olsen had to make a great save, when Davy Klaassen finished in the box. Dolberg actually got the ball in the net again, but it was disallowed, because he fouled Uros Matic on his way.
FCK manager Ståle Solbakken summed it up afterwards, saying: "2-1 was a deserved victory, but 3-1 would have been too much. I'm are very satisfied with the game, but I've always said that it will be totally open until then last minute of the return leg."
Both captains, FCK's Mathias Zanka Jørgensen and Klaassen of Ajax, were booked today and will be suspended for the return leg next on Thursday in Amsterdam.
FC COPENHAGEN: 2 AFC AJAX: 1
Goals: Falk (1’), Dolberg, Ajax (32’), Cornelius (59’).
FC Copenhagen: Olsen - Ankersen, Zanka (C), Johansson, Augustinsson - Falk, Kvist, Matic, Toutouh - Santander (63’ Pavlovic), Cornelius.
Ajax: Onana - Tete, de Ligt, Viergiever, Sinkgraven - Klaassen (C), Schöne, van de Beek (77’ Ziyech) - Traoré (77’ Neres), Dolberg, Younes.
Referee: Artur Dias (POR).
Goals: Falk (1’), Dolberg, Ajax (32’), Cornelius (59’).
FC Copenhagen: Olsen - Ankersen, Zanka (C), Johansson, Augustinsson - Falk, Kvist, Matic, Toutouh - Santander (63’ Pavlovic), Cornelius.
Ajax: Onana - Tete, de Ligt, Viergiever, Sinkgraven - Klaassen (C), Schöne, van de Beek (77’ Ziyech) - Traoré (77’ Neres), Dolberg, Younes.
Referee: Artur Dias (POR).
Attendance: 31.189.
