Lions earn first win of season

FC Copenhagen moved out of the Superliga relegation zone with a 4-1 away victory at newly-promoted Viborg FF, claiming their first win of the season in the process.

by Joe Short

Ståle Solbakken’s men looked hungry for three points and were 2-0 up at the break as first Claudemir netted a well-struck effort before Olof Mellberg headed in his first Copenhagen goal. The second half saw FCK push further forward, Igor Vetokele finishing low and Fanendo Adi curling a superb effort in off the bar. A VFF consolation from Kevin Mensah came with nine minutes remaining.

The victory pulls FCK away from the Superliga bottom and into ninth place as Danish football pauses for the international break. It was Ståle’s first win on his return as FCK head coach and the boss is yet to lose in three competitive fixtures.

Copenhagen started the brighter and threatened first, Nicolai Jørgensen forcing Michal Peskovic into a neat low save off a fourth-minute corner. Adi also came close with a header saved off the line, but the striker found better results as provider on 21 minutes when he turned to set up Claudemir on the edge of the box. The Brazilian took a touch before looping the ball past Peskovic for a 1-0 lead.

Watch highlights of the match here on FCKTV

Four minutes later and Vetokele made room in a tight box but fired over the crossbar, yet Copenhagen would not have to wait long for a second goal. Mellberg rose above the rest to nod home Pierre Bengtsson’s centre from the right to double FCK’s advantage on 32 minutes.

Mellberg could have got a double when he headed onto the crossbar early in the second half as Ståle pushed his men in search of a third. It came in the 65th minute as Copenhagen, controlling the midfield, spread the play to Christian Bolaños and then Lars Jacobsen, who cut back on the right side of the box for Vetokele to smartly roll the ball into the far corner.

At 3-0 the Danish champions looked comfortable and continued to threaten, mainly through Jørgensen. It was the Dane who carved open the VFF defence once again on 79 minutes, playing Adi into a good position on the left of the box before setting back to watch the striker at work. Adi, in only his second start for the club, beat his man before curling a right-rooted effort in off the crossbar to send the Lions fans behind the goal wild.

Watch highlights of the match here on FCKTV

Viborg showed late resistance with a neat counter-attacking goal of their own, Kevin Mensah finishing off a flowing move with a solid header past Johan Wiland. The evening was certainly FCK’s, however, as they recorded a first win of the season seven games into the campaign. Ståle now has a two-week break before his side meet Esbjerg in PARKEN and three days later play their first UEFA Champions League clash, against Juventus.

VIBORG FF: 1 FC COPENHAGEN: 4

VFF: Peskovic, Egeris, Ogunbiyi, Rask, Poulsen, Jensen, Thorsen, Stankov, Gotfredsen, Nagel, Dalgaard.

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen, Sigurdsson, Mellberg, Bengtsson, Bolaños, Claudemir, Delaney, Jørgensen, Vetokele, Adi.

Goals: Claudemir (21’), Mellberg (32’), Vetokele (65’), Adi (79’), Mensah, VFF (81’).

Referee: Kenn Hansen.