Nordstrand strikes first against FCN

31/07 2011 10:10

After midweek victory in UEFA Champions League third round qualifying, FC Copenhagen returned to Danish Superliga action on Saturday, with FC Nordsjælland a tricky opposition to face.

by Joe Short

Head coach Roland Nilsson made a variety of changes to the side that beat Shamrock Rovers 1-0 on Wednesday, Pape Pate Diouf slipping to the left wing to accommodate Morten Nordstrand, who partnered Dame N’Doye – on the Senegalese’s return from injury – up front. In defence, Ragnar Sigurdsson made a straight swap with Johnny Thomson in the right back position.

Cup winners Nordsjælland started with the same XI that drew 1-1 with AC Horsens last week, but it was FCK who posed the heaviest threat early on, Diouf shooting tamely at goalkeeper Jesper Hansen. Minutes later and N’Doye put enough pressure on defender Andreas Bjelland to force a mistake, the ball freeing up for Nordstrand, but he couldn’t adjust his feet in time.

Bjelland tried to make things right at the other end with a semi-dangerous header from a corner, but Johan Wiland was on his toes to beat the ball away.

Nordstrand opens the scoring

On 16 minutes Copenhagen found their breakthrough. N’Doye rose high to meet a deep Christian Bolaños corner, heading the ball down and onto the stump of the post. The ball looped out to Nordstrand – three yards out – who nonchalantly composed himself and nodded home the opening goal.

Nordstrand’s goal was the first of the season for the striker, and it injected into the home side a sense of calm, as FCK stood strong against the Nordsjælland backlash. Apart from one chance for Rawez Lawan, where Wiland rushed out to parry the effort, FCN struggled to break through the Lions back line and create any sort of opportunity.

Five minutes before the break Thomas Kristensen played Pierre Bengtsson in on the left wing, and with an excellent ball found N’Doye in the box. However, the striker crept a little too deep into the area, misjudged the cross and headed his opportunity over the crossbar. Sigurdsson then created a great chance for himself: a determined run forcing his way into the box, cutting inside but shooting off target from close range.

Coach switches things around

The second half started with much Nordsjælland possession, as the away side looked to claw their way back into the game. However, FCN couldn’t muster much up front, and in fact it was FCK who threatened first: only Mikkel Beckman fouling N’Doye preventing the striker from breaking through the defensive line.

Minutes later Nilsson made his changes, swapping Christian Grindheim for N’Doye, and pushing Diouf to his more favourable centre forward position. The effect of the swap was imminent, but it would take another substitute to seal off the game.

On 70 minutes Bolaños came off for Thomas Delaney, but it was again Nordsjælland who looked more like threatening. Matti Lund went for goal, but Wiland was more than equal to it.

Delaney secures victory

As the clock ticked down the tension rose in PARKEN, as the Lions faithful watched on nervously. However, there would be nothing to worry about, as in the 89th minute Delaney secured all three points for the Danish champions.

The attack started with Claudemir, who surged down the right wing and placed a delightful ball between FCN defence and goalkeeper. Diouf couldn’t reach it in the middle, but steaming in at the back post was Delaney, who kept a cool head to tap back across goal and into the far post for 2-0.

A concentrated performance secured the points, and it was once again good to see the Lions able to close out a match. Copenhagen’s next outing is across the waves in Ireland, as the squad look to progress into the next round of qualifying for the Champions League, taking with them a 1-0 advantage to Shamrock Rovers.

FC COPENHAGEN: 2 FC NORDSJÆLLAND: 2

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Sigurdsson, Zanka (C), Ottesen, Bengtsson, Claudemir, Bolaños, Kristensen, Diouf, Nordstrand, Santin.

FC Nordsjælland: Hansen, Kildentoft, Parkhurst, Bjelland, King, Laudrup, Winther-Stockholm, Christensen, Adu, Mikkelsen, Lawan.

Goals: Nordstrand (16’), Delaney (89’).

Referee: Jakob Kehlet.