Lions progress in Europe

Copenhagen travelled to Dublin in the knowledge that a clean sheet would be enough to see them through to the next stage of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Shamrock Rovers were the opponents determined to upset the Lions’ ambitions of heading to the group stages of Europe’s top club tournament once again.

by Joe Short

Right back Johnny Thomsen was the most evident absentee from the first XI, injury forcing him out to be replaced by Ragnar Sigurdsson. Up front Dame N’Doye partnered Pape Pate Diouf for the first time, the dual Senegalese combination providing a front line of power, speed and skill.

Both sides started with real intent, first N’Doye flicked into goalkeeper Ryan Thompson’s hands, before Johan Wiland rose high to catch a Chris Turner header. Billy Dennehy thought he deserved a penalty after Pierre Bengtsson brushed against the midfielder in the box, but the referee waived away the appeals.

Shamrock Rovers almost took the lead in emphatic style on 18 minutes, when Turner thundered a header off the FCK crossbar, the ball bouncing back out and away from goal. Turner got to the rebound, but his second header flew over the woodwork.

N’Doye pounces for 1-0

The Rovers dominated the next ten minutes, but couldn’t materialise a significant chance. Meanwhile, N’Doye showed his goalscoring threat with a low strike from 25 yards out. Thompson was equal to it though, tipping the ball round the post. Minutes later and Claudemir looped a volley over his left shoulder, but could only find the top of the netting.

Copenhagen would not have to wait long for the opener however, which came three minutes before the half time whistle. Christian Bolaños curled in a right-footed corner that was flicked on by a Hoops defender to the far post. N’Doye met the free ball and passed into the goal before an Irish leg could react and clear it away.

The 1-0 lead going into half time will have undoubtedly pleased Nilsson, but there was room for improvement, as the Lions proved after the restart. Both sides again enjoyed periods of dominance, with FCK looking far livelier than they had done in the opening 45 minutes.

Bolaños dives in for the second

Gary Twigg came close on 56 minutes with a flicked header, but the ball sailed just wide of Wiland’s right-hand post. Copenhagen were defending nervously, the ball often sticking in the penalty box seemingly determined not to be cleared. Three minutes later and only a Thompson diving punch prevented Diouf from squeezing an effort in at the far post following a low Pierre Bengtsson corner.

Bolaños made an effort for himself on 66 minutes, cutting into the box but shooting too close to Thompson. But he wasn’t to be denied seven minutes later, as the Costa Rican made it 2-0. N’Doye headed a typically powerful header from close range that Thompson did well to claw out. However, the ball fell to Bolaños who bravely dived low to head home, with a defender’s boots almost clipping his face on the way down.

The goal would be Bolaños’ last contribution to the game, as Nilsson swapped him for Thomas Delaney. Diouf then came off for César Santin, who had a great chance with four minutes remaining. The Brazilian beat the offside trap, opened up his body to curl round Thompson with his right foot, but didn’t connect properly – the goalkeeper gathering easily.

That was to be the last of the action as FCK progressed to the final round of qualifying for the Champions League, winning 3-0 on aggregate. The draw for the next round will take place on Friday 5 August, with clubs including previous opponents BATE Borisov in the hat.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: 0 FC COPENHAGEN: 2

Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, Sullivan, Stevens, Sives, Murray (C), McCabe, Turner, McCormack, Dennehy, Finn, Twigg.

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Sigurdsson, Zanka (C), Ottesen, Bengtsson, Claudemir, Grindheim, Bolaños, Kristensen, Diouf, N’Doye.

Goals: N’Doye (42’), Bolaños (73’).