Lions beat Randers 2-0

02/12 2012 18:57

First-half goals from Andreas Cornelius and Ragnar Sigurdsson were enough for FCK as they beat Randers 2-0 on a cold Sunday evening in PARKEN.

by Joe Short

FC Copenhagen fans steeled themselves for a cold evening in PARKEN as the December weather descended on the capital. Head coach Ariel Jacobs made two changes to his XI from midweek, Ragnar Sigurdsson and Martin Vingaard earning starts for the Lions.

Randers, pushing for a European slot this season, had a great chance seconds into the game when Alexander Fischer crept in at the back post to meet a low ball, but sent his shot way off target. The early opportunity was not indicative of the opening throes, with 12 minutes gone before the next big chance.

Yet what a chance it was, as Andreas Cornelius scored his 13^th goal of the Superliga season when FCK suddenly broke forward. The striker received the ball and banked left to the inside corner of the Randers box, before sending an effort off Mads Fenger’s outstretched leg to loop over David Ousted and into the net.

Sigurdsson heads in for 2-0

Few chances followed the goal and in fact FCK needed to be secure at the other end: Kris Stadsgaard making four tackles in the space of 15 seconds to block a quick Randers advancement. While Stadsgaard impressed at the back, his CB partner Sigurdsson earned his stripes in the Randers box when he rose to meet Lars Jacobsen’s teasing corner to make it 2-0 to Copenhagen on 25 minutes.

Cornelius again shot on site four minutes later but Ousted got two hands to the 20-yard effort. Just 10 minutes before half time Santin tried his luck from distance, sending a fierce swerving effort at goal only to see Ousted again parry; while Ousted got down well to prevent the Brazilian from making it three with a neat dive to his right.

The second half started much slower than the first as both sides battled for possession in the middle of the field, a struggle that saw Christian Keller booked for a late challenge on Claudemir after 54 minutes. It took a further seven minutes for the half’s first chance to materialise but Stadsgaard could not keep his header below the bar from a Pierre Bengtsson free-kick.

Jørgensen and Vetokele both return from injury

Nicolai Jørgensen continued his comeback from injury when he replaced Claudemir on 64 minutes and in the proceeding play FCK almost grabbed a third in freak circumstances: Keller deflecting a Delaney effort and Ousted scrambling across goal to save the ball just inches from the line. Ousted also did well to get behind a Cornelius blast from 35-yards, the goalkeeper proving solid between Randers’ sticks.

At the other end Nicolai Brock-Madsen eked out a chance for himself when Fischer found the striker eight yards out, but Brock could only twist and fire wide; meanwhile Santin came off for Igor Vetokele. The forward got himself into the action on 81 minutes, careering down the right flank to pass inside to Jørgensen, who shot low into Ousted’s arms.

As the clock ticked down Cornelius departed for Danny Amankwaa while on 87 minutes Vingaard sliced an effort miles wide of goal. Randers controlled the final stages yet failed to retain the ball up field and after three minutes of injury time Claus Bo Larsen brought the game to a close.

Attention now turns to the UEFA Europa League, where FCK need a victory against Steaua Bucharest in their last game of the group stage.

FC COPENHAGEN: 2 RANDERS: 0

FC Copenhagen: Christensen, Jacobsen (C), Sigurdsson, Stadsgaard, Bengtsson, Claudemir, Kristensen, Delaney, Vingaard, Santin, Cornelius.

Randers: Ousted, Thomsen, Fenger, Sørensen, Tamboura, Kamper, Keller, Sane, Fischer, Schwartz, Boya.

Goals: Cornelius (12’), Sigurdsson (25’).

Referee: Claus Bo Larsen.