League update: March
In the beginning of March F.C. Copenhagen kicked off the spring part of the domestic season with the traditional derby against Brøndby. Always highly anticipated, this particular test was undoubtedly as significant as ever since it was also a so-called ‘six-point game’ between the no. one and two in the league with Brøndby ahead by two points at the time. In a game played on a high, international level, the Lions seized the opportunity and justifiably claimed the top spot. Going three for four, the Copenhagen squad is still leading the way for the other teams in the Danish SAS Liga as we come to the end of the month.
By Lars Kristensen
Match day 18, 2 March:
Brøndby IF - F.C. Copenhagen 0 - 1
- It was a solid team effort on our part. We left them very little room while still managing to pass the ball around very nicely ourselves. However, although the run of play did assure me that we were the ones closest to scoring, I wasn’t at all comfortable until we actually did get a goal - anything can happen in these games as long as the score remains at 0-0, said Coach Ståle Solbakken of the spring opener.
Matchday 19, 7 March:
Randers FC – F.C. Copenhagen 0-3
- I’m not at all happy with the way we played in the first half. Defensively, we were very poor and we gave away far too many chances. Also, an unfortunate incident meant that I had to have two stitches in the head, but it probably looked much worse than it actually was as I just bled all over the place. In any case, we finally gained control after the break and I’m quite satisfied with everything from then on, concluded Czech International, Zdenek Pospech.
Matchday 20, 15 March:
F.C. Copenhagen – Esbjerg fB 0-2
- For some reason we couldn’t muster our usually flow but, even so, I still think we played well enough to win. Despite a sub par performance, it was – from where I was standing, anyway - quite evident that we were producing chances anyhow. In the end, the ball just wouldn’t go in, complained goalkeeper, Jesper Christiansen, after the game.
Matchday 21, 22 March:
F.C. Copenhagen – Odense Boldklub 2-1
- A hugely important victory against one of our fellow contenders for the title. The first half was pretty even – perhaps still with a slight advantage towards us. We did in fact play exceptionally well during the first half hour and both Ailton and myself had several opportunities. In the second half, it may have been Odense who actually opened the scoring, but not only did we bounce back almost immediately, we kept it up with a great finish that also provided the winning goal, said Danish International, William Kvist.
Upon entering into the month of April, the Copenhagen squad faces an increasingly tight schedule that will see the side play eight games in just twenty-five days. This includes two semi-finals in the Ekstra Bladet Cup against this year’s biggest surprise of the competition, Nordvest FC, who normally only plays 3rd level football. Thus, as the finale draws ever nearer in the league as well as the cup the prospects of a title in either or perhaps even both remain beautifully intact.
