One point from the first two games

After losing 0-1 in the season opener against FC Nordsjælland - with the goal coming in the 92nd minute - F.C. Copenhagen drew 1-1 in Aalborg after a game which could have gone either way.

 

A bitter defeat
The Nordsjælland-defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Ståle Solbakken and his team. Not only was it the first time ever that the Farum-based team managed to beat FCK, and not only was it the first away-defeat for more than a year. It was also a rather undeserved win after the champions had dominated most of the game, but failed to get the ball past the brilliant Nordsjælland-keeper Kim Christensen.

 

Then suddenly canadian striker Issey Farran struck after a rare counter-attack from the home team deep into the 3 minutes of extra-time in the second half. But still, there was time for a last and very dramatic attack, where Copenhagen earned a corner as the clock passed the 93rd minute. Everybody - including keeper Jesper Christiansen - stepped up in the penalty area, and Christiansen actually managed to send a powerful header towards goal. But it took the underside of the cross bar, from where it deflected down towards the goalline, where his keeper-colleague Kim Christensen miraculously managed to punch it away...

 

 

Jesper Christiansen hit the crossbar in the dying seconds of the game...
© FCK.DK/Photo: Carl Redhead

 

 

The game gave debut to ex-Nordsjælland-striker Morten Nordstrand and Aalborg-midfielder Rasmus Würtz, both Danish A-internationals, while Atiba Hutchinson was missing due to illness, and another new signing, Swedish full back Mikael Antonsson, suffered from a minor knee injury.

 

MATCHFACTS:
FC NORDSJÆLLAND-F.C. COPENHAGEN 1-0 (0-0)
90.: 1-0 Issey Nakajima-Farran
Attendance: 9.045
 
F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen - Oscar Wendt (66.: Hjalte Nørregaard), Michael Gravgaard, Brede Hangeland,  Niclas Jensen – Michael Silberbauer, Rasmus Würtz, William Kvist, Jesper Grønkjær - Morten Nordstrand (58.: Marcus Allbäck), Ailton Almeida. (Un-used substitutes: Mathias Zanka Jørgensen, Mads Laudrup, Frederik Vang Larsen)

 

 

1-1 was a fair result in Aalborg
"Hutch" and "Anton" were back in the squad for the next away game in Aalborg against last seasons no. 3, who currently are trying to overcome Gent in the TOTO Cup and thereby qualify for the UEFA Cup.

 

The game ended 1-1 after South African midfielder Nomvethe had put the home team in front shortly into the second half. But Norwegian "Tower of Power" Brede Hangeland produced the equalizer a quarter before the final whistle with a beautiful headed goal following a corner from Niclas Jensen.

 

 

Brede rises high above the pitch and heads it home.
 © FCK.DK/Photo: Daniel Rommedahl

 

Rasmus Würtz - who received a fair welcome from the fans on his former home ground - was injured in the second half, when he twisted his ankle. The next days will show when he will be ready for action again.

 

Ståle Solbakken said after the game that he was not satisfied with the offensive play, and that his team still not is quite where it should be. However, a draw in Aalborg is always a good result, and both team had chances in the second half to produce a winner. The next game is Saturday in PARKEN against Viborg, and on Tuesday Copenhagen take on Beitar Jerusalem in the UEFA Champions League-qualification.

 

MATCHFACTS:
AALBORG-F.C. COPENHAGEN 1-1 (0-0)
48.: 1-0 Siyabonga Nomvethe
75.: 1-1 Brede Hangeland
Attendance: 9.784
 
F.C. Copenhagen: Jesper Christiansen - William Kvist, Michael Gravgaard, Brede Hangeland,  Niclas Jensen – Michael Silberbauer, Rasmus Würtz (65.: Oscar Wendt), Hjalte Nørregaard (58.: Atiba Hutchinson), Jesper Grønkjær - Morten Nordstrand (70.: Ailton Almeida), Marcus Allbäck. (Un-used substitutes: Mikael Antonsson, Nathan Coe)