Lions secure late Champions League shot

Thomas Kristensen’s late winner earned FC Copenhagen a last-gasp Champions League qualification place on a tumultuous final day of the Superliga in PARKEN yesterday.

by Joe Short

The midfielder benefited from a deflection four minutes from time to score past Mads Toppel and ensure victory for the Lions, who leap-frogged FC Midtjylland into second place as the Wolves lost 3-1 in Vestsjælland.

Watch match highlights here on FCKTV

Copenhagen went behind through a Johan Wiland own goal but Igor Vetokele’s composed finish and a ranged header from Andreas Cornelius fired the home side into the lead, only for Martin Spelmann to draw level.

With the clock ticking down, it appeared FCK would have to make do with third place until Kristensen collected from Pierre Bengtsson on the edge of the area and pulled the trigger – the ball fortunately clipping a defender and looping into the net.

Watch match highlights here on FCKTV

The day also served as a fitting farewell to four FCK players – Lars Jacobsen, Christian Bolaños, Daniel Braaten and Georg Margreitter – who will all depart now the season is over.

FC COPENHAGEN: 3 ODENSE BK: 2

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen, Stadsgaard, Delaney, Bengtsson, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kristensen, Gislason, Vetokele, Cornelius.

OB: Toppel, Diarra, Larsen, Vadocz, Skulason, Spelmann, O’Brien, Schoop, Larsen, Abdellaoue, Bodul.

Goals: Wiland, OB (14’ o.g.), Vetokele (23’), Cornelius (61’), Spelmann, OB (78’), Kristensen (86’).

Referee: Michael Tykgaard.