Last-gasp penalty denies Lions win

02/10 2011 21:04

FC Copenhagen met AGF in PARKEN for the first time since the Jutland club reinstated themselves in the top flight of Danish football. Third in the Superliga going into the game, AGF have adapted well to life back among the big boys. As for Copenhagen, Roland Nilsson was no doubt hoping to put the recent disappointment in Europe behind him.

by Joe Short

AGF had only conceded 10 goals coming into the fixture, a feat proven in their well-drilled opening to the game. FCK looked hungry going forward, but a sturdy Aarhus defence prevented any meaningful chance materialising in the opening quarter of an hour, bar a low Morten Nordstrand shot.

Dame N’Doye was gifted a golden chance on 17 minutes however, when a stout Nordstrand back-heeled Pierre Bengtsson free deep on the FCK left. The full back pulled his pass into N’Doye’s path, but the Senegalese’s final effort flew high into the stand behind Steffen Rasmussen’s goal.

Following the chance AGF worked their was back into the game, yet it was Copenhagen who controlled the majority of possession in the centre of the park. Christian Bolaños twisted his way into a great chance to score, having dummied past two sliding defenders. Inside the box with the goal at his mercy, Bolaños’ shot hit the knee of Alte Håland, and he watched the ball roll to safety.

Bolaños creates breakthrough

The Costa Rican had two further opportunities before half time. The first was a blocked volley following a deep Bengtsson cross from the left; while just before the whistle Bolaños offered the crowd a bit of South American flamboyancy, overhead kicking from the edge of the area, but into Rasmussen’s hands.

The second half saw Christian Grindheim enter the field for Thomas Kristensen, but the midfielder couldn’t aid Copenhagen’s play going forward, with the home side forced to sit in the centre of the pitch and wait for an opening.

Indeed, it was not until César Santin replaced Nordstrand on the hour mark that FCK posed a real threat on goal. Just seven minutes after Santin’s entry, Copenhagen found the net. Bolaños dribbled his way to the byline and chipped the ball across the front of goal where N’Doye lurked. The striker beat Håland to head in his seventh league goal of the season.

Scenes of Kazan come back to haunt Lions

Shortly after, Thomas Delaney tested Rasmussen at the near post, but the keeper tipped around for a corner, which was subsequently cleared by the AGF defence. Aarhus fought their way forward on occasional spells, but couldn’t break down their resilient opponents. At the other end both N’Doye and Bolaños saw efforts blocked as the clocked ticked down.

Indeed, with seconds remaining it looked as though a 1-0 win and all three points was secure for FCK, when Søren Berg won the away side a corner. Anders Kure met the cross with his head, as did Claudemir’s hand in a ‘Grønkjær-in-Kazan’ moment of confusion. Referee Michael Svendsen immediately pointed to the spot.

Martin Jørgensen stepped up and stroked the ball past Johan Wiland from 12 yards, thus securing a point for AGF in the most dramatic of fashions. While the goal pushes AGF up into second place in the Superliga, it also ends Copenhagen’s eight-match domestic winning streak. However, the Danish champions are still ten points clear in the league, after 11 played.

FC COPENHAGEN: 1 AGF: 1

FC Copenhagen: Wiland (C), Jacobsen, Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Claudemir, Kristensen, Bolaños, Delaney, Nordstrand, N’Doye.

AGF: Rasmussen, Sorin, Håland, Kure, Eckersley, Petersen, Povlsen, Jørgensen, Berg, Larsen, Jóhannsson.

Goals: N’Doye (67’), Jørgensen, AGF (pen. 90’).

Referee: Michael Svendsen.