Lillestrøm-FCK 1-0 (1-0)

F.C. Copenhagen lost 0-1 in Oslo in their first game in Royal League, but 2-2 would have been a more fair result of the entertaining match. Ståle Solbakken had chosen to rest some of his regular first team-players (Michael Gravgaard, Tobias Linderoth and Marcus Allbäck), while others were ill (Fredrik Berglund and Martin Bergvold), injured (Lars Jacobsen and André Bergdølmo) or banned (Razak Pimpong).

Copenhagen got off to a good start, and the first 15-20 minutes passed by relatively quiet. Half way through the first half, central defender Dan Thomassen was injured and had to leave the pitch, which resulted in some reorganization. On came 17 year old Mads Laudrup, son of Michael Laudrup, and took place on the left side of the midfield, while Jeppe Brandrup stepped down to right back, and Nikolaj Hansen stepped in to the central defence.

The Norwegians, playing with nearly their strongest team, profited from this by tightening the grip of the game, and it was not undeserved, when Pål Strand after 32 minutes scored with a low, fierce shot from the distance. Shortly after, Copenhagen should have equalized, when Jesper Grønkjær found Atiba Hutchinson with a good cross, but from close range the canadian hammered the ball against the cross bar.

Mads Laudrup and Atiba Hutchinson fighting for the ball

The second half developed to a very entertaining match with lots of chances in both ends, and Copenhagen dominated more and more, while Lillestrøm were still dangerous on counter-attacks. Towards the end, Ståle Solbakken gambled with a 3-4-3-formation, and it nearly paid off, when Michael Silberbauer hit the post fifteen minutes before the end. But Lillestrøm also had their chances, and Olivier Occean and Arild Sundgot came very close to double the lead.

However, it ended with the narrow 1-0-victory for Lillestrøm, who is now top of the table after two victories and one draw in their first three games. The two teams meet again in Copenhagen on Sunday afternoon.

Matchfacts:
Lillestrøm SK-F.C. Copenhagen 1-0 (1-0)
32.: 1-0 Pål Strand
Attendance: 2.161

F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen – Nikolaj Hansen (74.: Martin Bernburg), Brede Hangeland, Dan Thomassen (25.: Mads Laudrup), Oscar Wendt – William Kvist, Michael Silberbauer, Hjalte Nørregaard, Jeppe Brandrup (60.: Lasse Qvist) – Atiba Hutchinson, Jesper Grønkjær. (Un-used substitutes: Saban Özdogan and Benny Gall)

Bookings: Hjalte Nørregaard and Jesper Grønkjær