Horsens-FCK 1-3 (1-1)

After a tight and intense fight, Horsens suffered a rare home-defeat, when Copenhagen in the end proved to be the best team and took their first victory after the winter break...

Jesper Grønkjær put the champions ahead after only 6 minutes, when he headed home a perfect cross from Niclas Jensen, who had stepped over in the right side to take a free kick. But Copenhagen never really found their game, and Horsens – who is always a difficult team to meet in Forum Horsens Arena – fought their way back into the game, and it was not undeserved when they equalized after 24 minutes. Ghanesian midfielder Charles Akonnor took advantage of poor defensive work by Copenhagen during a corner from Søren Friis and headed the ball past Jesper Christiansen.

Atiba Hutchinson surrounded by four opponents

After a rather miserable first half, Copenhagen needed only a half minute after the break to restore their lead – after an excellent build-up, Lars Jacobsen laid a perfect cross into the penalty area, and Hjalte Nørregaard found the back of the net with a flying header.

But again, Copenhagen lost pace and flow in their game, while Horsens gained confidence and played their chance. However, they generally struggled to produce chances, but at one occasion Jesper Christiansen had to pull off a great double-save to deny the home team the equalizer. Until the last quarter of the game, the game was quite open, but then the Horsens-players seemed to get tired and could not maintain the same pressure as earlier.

Subsequently, Copenhagen dominated more and more, and 5 minutes before the end Grønkjær got his second, when Atiba Hutchinson laid the ball back to him following another fine cross from Lars Jacobsen. Knowing that this settled the game, Ståle Solbakken chose to give debut to 18-year old Mads Laudrup, son of Michael Laudrup. Hutchison could easily had added a fourth goal before the final whistle, but looking back at all 90 minutes he and his team-mates can’t complain over a two-goal victory in Horsens.

18-year old Mads Laudrup got his league-debut

All photos by Carl Redhead

MATCHFACTS:
AC Horsens-F.C. Copenhagen 1-3 (1-1)
6.: 0-1 Jesper Grønkjær
24.: 1-1 Charles Akonnor
46.: 1-2 Hjalte Nørregaard
85.: 1-3 Jesper Grønkjær
Attendance: 5.498

 
F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen - Lars Jacobsen, Michael Gravgaard, Brede Hangeland,  Niclas Jensen – Atiba Huthcinson, Michael Silberbauer, Hjalte Nørregaard, Jesper Grønkjær (86.: Mads Laudrup) - Fredrik Berglund (63.: William Kvist), Ailton Almeida. (Un-used substitutes: Oscar Wendt, Dan Thomassen, Benny Gall)

 Booking: Atiba Hutchinson