Holding on to the first place
Since the latest recap F.C. Copenhagen have lost and then again reclaimed 1st place in the Danish SAS League. The last four matches has had its ups and downs - and have only given 5 points from 2 draws, one win and one loss. But still F.C. Copenhagen sits on top of the League - as some of the other candidates for the League Title also have “stumbled” in the last four matches.
By Jan Eliassen
AaB – F.C. Copenhagen 0 – 0
Matchday 13 (of 33), 20 October 2007
For the second time this season F.C. Copenhagen travelled to Aalborg to play AaB, and for the second time the game ended in a draw. F.C. Copenhagen dominated the game and had most of the play – but came to very few chances as the Aalborg defence played a good game. The same was the case for the Copenhagen defensive line – and as none of the teams conceded a goal, the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
There was a few chances – most of them after set pieces – but either the attackers were of target – or the goalkeepers in both ends made some brilliant saves – and all in all, the draw and one point to each side was fair enough, and a result no one really could complain about.
F.C. Copenhagen – Randers FC 0 – 1
Matchday 14 (of 33), 28 October 2007
It’s not always the best team that wins ? and that was what happened when F.C. Copenhagen played and lost 1-0 to Randers FC. The visiting team came to PARKEN with full focus on defending and hoping on the one chance – the lucky punch – that could give them the victory. And this was exactly what happened, as Randers played a nice defensive game, got their one chance when Mikael Antonsson brought down Bedi Buval, and gave Kenneth Møller Pedersen a chance to score on the penalty kick – which he did.
F.C. Copenhagen had their chances to score. Actually they had a lot of them – but this was a game that will be remembered for four shots of the post, and especially Libor Sionko will look back at the game and wonder how he could hit the post the times – and not score. And the end on the game, Ståle Solbakken tried as hard as he could to get the equaliser, playing with only 3 men in the defence and as much offensive power as he could find – but this wasn’t the day, no goals were scored - and Randers FC won the game 1-0.
AGF – F.C. Copenhagen 0 – 2
Matchday 15 (of 33), 3 November 2007
Jesper Grønkjær returned to the starting line-up after a few matches out of the squad thanks to injury. This turned out to be one of the decisive factors, as he twice in the first half showed both speed and skill. After 26 minutes he found Atiba Hutchinson who made it 1-0 and only 13 minutes later Grønkjær served a perfect pass to Libor Sionko who then volleyed home the 2-0 goal – and what showed to be the game-winner.
In the second half AGF played a much better game and they did produce some good chances. Peter Graulund would normally be their target-man and the man who scores almost all of AGF’s goals, but as he served a 1-day suspension, AGF had no one to score their goals. F.C. Copenhagen played a good game in both defence and attack – and because of that, took home the 3 point without any problems.
FC Midtjylland - F.C. Copenhagen 2 – 2
Matchday 16 (of 33), 11 November 2007
Last seasons number two at home to the reigning Danish Champions, and this seasons number two at home to the current number one: FC Midtjylland could with a win take over first place, but right from the start of the game, F.C. Copenhagen were eager to show who is number one in Denmark. And it took only 9 minutes before F.C. Copenhagen had opened the scoring. Jesper Grønkjær played a smart pass to Oscar Wendt, who found Hjalte Nørregard in front of goal – and at the end of his header was Marcus Allbäck and then the score was 1-0. Only five minutes later it could have been 2-0, but this time Allbäck managed to miss the almost open goal. The rest of the first half “belonged” to the visiting team from Copenhagen, but at half-time the score was still only 1-0.
Right from the start of the second half FC Midtjylland decided that they would play along as well, and as Jesper Christiansen in some strange way missed a seemingly harmless shot from Jesper Thygesen, the score was tied at 1-1. The momentum now swung over to FC Midtjylland and they started to dominate the game, and after 65 minutes FC Midtjylland took the lead – to the joy of the record crowd of 11.763 spectators. Simon Poulsen found Frank Kristensen in front of goal – and that normally means goal ? and so it did this Sunday evening. But the Danish Champions showed that they just won’t roll over ? and started to get back into the game – once again playing with only 3 defenders. It was also one of the defenders that made it 2-2. Eleven minutes from the end F.C. Copenhagen got a corner kick – from which Mikael Antonsson levelled the score when his header went just inside the left post.
The game ended 2-2, a fair result between two good sides, and a result that leaves F.C. Copenhagen in first place, but sends FC Midtjylland down to third place. AaB is in second place with the same point total as F.C. Copenhagen.
