Ottesen earns Lions draw

With just one point separating FC Copenhagen from second-place FC Nordsjælland at the top of the Superliga, head coach Carsten V. Jensen named a strong side to face SønderjyskE in Haderslev.

by Joe Short

The FCK squad had a week to recuperate from their 1-1 draw with OB, and CV chose to name the same starting XI from last Sunday to face SønderjyskE. In the fourth minute FCK had their first chance when Bryan Oviedo played in César Santin, but the striker’s effort never challenged Nathan Coe in goal.

But Coe was soon to be tested properly, as Oviedo ran on to a deep Christian Bolaños cross to shoot at the keeper on 17 minutes. Moments later and Santin should have done better with a wonderful move with strike partner Dame N’Doye, that eventually saw the Brazilian one-on-one with Coe, but he skied his shot.

On 23 minutes Coe parried a magnificent effort from Claudemir after neat link-up play with Christian Grindheim in the midfield, and could only watch as N’Doye fired the rebound over the crossbar. Two minutes later and Bolaños found Santin in space but the striker again hit Coe with his effort, before finally beating the keeper but not Jarl André Storbæk, who cleared off the line.

SønderjyskE snatch lead

After a half dominated by Copenhagen, it was cruel to see the away side go a goal down three minutes before the break. SønderjyskE used their only opportunity of the half to target Henrik Hansen on the edge of FCK’s box. Hansen could have shot himself, but unselfishly laid the ball to Eyjólfur Hédinsson, who tucked his effort away for his seventh goal of the season.

CV made two changes at the break, bringing on Sölvi Ottesen and Thomas Kristensen. But five minutes into the second half SønderjyskE made it 2-0, when Hansen led a counter attack that found Lasse Vibe in space. The striker out-paced Ragnar Sigurdsson to place his effort past Johan Wiland to double SE’s lead.

After nearly an hour of play SønderjyskE’s Daniel Christensen intercepted a pass, surged forward and struck from distance, only to see his effort saved. Martin Vingaard then came on for Oviedo, before Coe stretched full length to pluck a Bolaños attempt out of the air on 68 minutes.

Sölvi delivers FCK fight back

The goal the Lions were looking for finally came however with 14 minutes remaining. Vingaard played a delightful cross-field pass to Bolaños on the right wing, and the Costa Rican did the rest: taking his time in nailing a shot past Coe for 2-1.

Copenhagen kept on pressing after the goal, and although SønderjyskE offered admirable resistance, FCK finally equalised on 84 minutes. Bolaños delivered a perfect cross to Ottesen at the far post, the Icelander heading the ball down towards the net. It just crept over the line before Coe flapped clear, but there was no doubt that the equaliser had stood.

Buoyed by the goal, FCK pushed forward looking for a winner but Vingaard spurned their best opportunity, blazing the ball past the far right-hand post. SønderjyskE managed the final barrage of heavy pressure very well, forcing a 2-2 draw out of the Danish champions.

SØNDERJYSKE: 2 FC COPENHAGEN: 2

SønderjyskE: Coe, Storbæk, Østil, Jónasson, Christensen, O’Brien, Bødker, Vibe, Hansen, Hédinsson, Antipas.

FC Copenhagen: Wiland(C), Jacobsen, Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Grindheim, Claudemir, Bolaños, Oviedo, Santin, N’Doye.

Goals: Hédinsson, SønderjyskE (84’), Vibe, SønderjyskE (50’), Bolaños (76’), Ottesen (85’).

Referee: Peter Rasmussen.