Nordsjælland 3-1 victors in PARKEN
Head coach Roland Nilsson made four changes to the squad that drew 2-2 with Hannover 96 in midweek, Lars Jacobsen and Peter Larsson starting in defence, while Thomas Kristensen and César Santin earned starting roles higher up the pitch.
by Joe Short
From kick off it was evident that FC Nordsjælland, fourth in the Superliga before the match, were ready for the fight. In the first two minutes Søren Christensen hooked over the crossbar before Mikkel Beckmann pounced on the defensive mix-up between Larsson and Pierre Bengtsson to run in on goal. Luckily his low shot was well saved by Johan Wiland.
It took almost a quarter of an hour for FC Copenhagen to create their first chance. Santin – with back to goal – turned two defenders before playing Christian Bolaños free on the right edge of the box. Bolaños’ strike was sweet, but it sailed just over the bar.
It would be Copenhagen’s only real threat on goal – bar a Dame N’Doye saved effort from a tight angle – before FCN opened the scoring. A looping throw bounced past Bengtsson to Christensen, who volleyed across Wiland and into the net before Ragnar Sigurdsson could react in time.
Nordsjælland double their lead
At 1-0 Nordsjælland appeared in control, but Beckmann proved that composure is key against FCK, as he lost the ball to Thomas Delaney who in turn played N’Doye through. Only quick goalkeeping from Jesper Hansen prevented the Senegalese from equalising.
Just as the Lions looked to be forcing their way back into the game, Nordsjælland struck again in clinical style. A well-worked one-two between Beckmann and Christensen rounded the Copenhagen defence, the latter laying off to Tobias Mikkelsen to tap home from close range, and give the visitors a 2-0 lead on the half hour.
The remainder of the half saw FCK vying for possession, without creating much in terms of dangerous chances. Indeed, it was only until early after the break that Copenhagen threatened again. N’Doye used his strength to force Jores Okore off the ball, but as the striker was about to shoot, Andreas Bjelland rescued his side with a great tackle. At the other end only a stretching Wiland prevented Andreas Laudrup making it three.
N’Doye adds consolation goal
After an hour Pape Pate Diouf came inches away from halving the deficit, a shot form outside the area clipping the far right post. Christensen kept Wiland on his toes with a smart lob, but the Swede flicked the ball over for a corner. The security would not last long however, as the Lions defence went to sleep on 65 minutes, gifting Nicolai Stockholm an easy finish from close range, making it 3-0 to the away side.
Copenhagen managed to scrape a consolation goal before the full time whistle, N’Doye beating Bjelland to a throughball to knock in his eighth goal of the season. However, that was all FCK could muster on a difficult Monday night for the Danish champions.
Next up for Copenhagen is a visit to Brøndby Stadium for the next round of the DBU Cup on Thursday. A packed fixture list follows, with a trip to OB foreshadowing home ties against Hannover and Lyngby BK in the upcoming fortnight.
FC COPENHAGEN: 1 FC NORDSJÆLLAND: 3
FC Copenhagen: Wiland (C), Jacobsen, Larsson, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Bolaños, Kristensen, Grindheim, Delaney, Santin, N’Doye.
FC Nordsjælland: Hansen, Parkhurst, Okore, Bjelland, Mtilliga, Laudrup, Stockholm, Christensen, Adu, Mikkelsen, Beckmann.
Goals: Christensen, FCN (22’), Mikkelsen, FCN (31’), Stockholm, FCN (65’), N’Doye (81’).
Referee: Henning Jensen.
