Lions lose DBU Cup final to AaB
FC Copenhagen's DBU Cup run fell at the final hurdle as Superliga champions Aalborg came from behind to lift the national trophy in a neutral PARKEN.
by Joe Short
Two quick-fire goals from Rasmus Thelander - the second a mirror image of the first - cancelled out Andreas Cornelius' early header to put AaB in control.
Jakob Ahlmann and Søren Frederiksen pounced on lapse defending to extend Aalborg's lead and, while Rurik Gislason pulled one back for the Lions, it wasn't enough to prevent the trophy heading to Jutland.
Copenhagen also went close through Christian Bolaños and Daniel Braaten but AaB goalkeeper Nicolai Larsen made the game-changing save to deny Andreas Cornelius moments before Ahlmann's strike.
Cornelius heads Lions in front
The tense atmosphere inside PARKEN due to two sets of vocal supporters made its way onto the pitch, where Kris Stadsgaard and Ahlmann were locked in a confrontation early on due to a late challenge by the Aalborg player. Referee Jakob Kehlet booked the pair.
Cornelius was the first to find an opening 13 minutes in when the Denmark international scuffed wide an Igor Vetokele knock-down from eight yards out.
But Cornelius would not have to wait long to break the deadlock, for five minutes later the 21-year-old lingered in wait at the far post for a Lars Jacobsen centre, which came lofted over from the right byline and left Cornelius with little alternative but to head into the net.
FCK allowed their opponents plenty of possession after the goal but Aalborg failed to threaten Johan Wiland's goal. Igor Vetokele was the next to go close with a side-footed effort from Christian Bolaños' pass that Nicolai Larsen got down well to parry.
Thelander double knocks FCK back
The Aalborg pressure continued, however, and they drew level four minutes before half time from a well-executed corner. Wiland got caught underneath the in-swinging flight and Thelander rose above Pierre Bengtsson to nod home from close range at the far post.
The pressure mounted on FCK's back line and only a superb save from Wiland down to his right prevented Kasper Kusk from scoring after the AaB striker burst through the Lions defence.
Yet in a repeat of their first goal, Aalborg found themselves 2-1 up when Thelander once again beat everyone to a deep corner - off the Wiland save - to rocket the Superliga champions elect in front.
Gislason strikes too late
The game opened up early in the second half as FCK looked for a way back into it. Bolaños pulled a low shot narrowly wide after promising build-up play on 47 minutes and Daniel Braaten was inches away from beating Larsen to the ball in a one-on-one, but the Lions just couldn't find that opening.
A wonder save from Larsen prevented Cornelius from equalising 67 minutes in when the stopper got down low to the FCK forward's reactionary volley that came from a pinball passage in the AaB box.
Manager Ståle Solbakken brought on Gislason and Nicolai Jørgensen shortly after the chance, but it was Aalborg who were next to find the goal when Bolaños was caught out watching Anders Jacobsen knock down on the left side of Wiland's box, which gave Ahlmann the space to run in behind and bury the loose ball.
And before the Lions could catch their breath it was 4-1 to Aalborg when Søren Frederiksen beat the offside trap to side-foot home a defence-splitting centre.
Copenhagen were afforded a brief glimmer of hope when Gislason beat three challenges in the AaB box before knocking the ball past Larsen for 4-2, but it wasn't to be as the Jutland club secured a memorable league and cup double.
AALBORG: 4 FC COPENHAGEN: 2
AaB: Larsen, Kristensen, Thelander, Pedersen, Ahlmann, Kusk, Würtz, Risgård, Thomsen, Spalvis, Jacobsen.
FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen (c), Stadsgaard, Margreitter, Bengtsson, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kristensen, Braaten, Vetokele, Cornelius.
Goals: Cornelius (18'), Thelander, AaB (41' & 44'), Ahlmann, Aab (72'), Frederiksen (74'), Gislason (89').
Referee: Jakob Kehlet.
