Santin hattrick demolishes Odense
PARKEN welcomed back Superliga action after a two-week break for international qualifiers, with head coach Ståle Solbakken fielding a full-strength side for the visit of OB as FC København looked to stretch their lead at the top of the table.
by Joe Short
The only changes from FCK’s last match against Randers a fortnight ago were in the middle of the pitch; William Kvist and Christian Bolaños were brought in to replace Thomas Kristensen and Hjalte Nørregaard, while Mathais Zanka was celebrated before kick off in recognition of his 100th game for the club.
København began the game comfortably, passing the ball around with real purpose. Cesar Santin was almost put through after just two minutes of play, but the ball hit his backside as he ran in on goal. However, just a couple of minutes later Santin gave FCK the lead: Mikael Antonsson flicked on a corner kick onto the crossbar, which fell to Bolaños at the back post, who found Santin in a melee of bodies to stab home.
Appreciative passing style
København were in full flow, the crowd calling “Olé” to commemorate every completed pass. Zdenek Pospech took advantage of the deep OB defence but shot just wide of goal, while a tempting Martin Vingaard cross just needed a touch to direct the ball into the net, all within the opening ten minutes.
However, as the game settled down Odense began to apply some pressure themselves. Zanka was alert to clear a dangerous cross, before a miss-kick by Johan Wiland gave Peter Utaka the chance to play Johan Absalonsen through, but the FCK keeper was on hand to alleviate his mistake.
On 19 minutes the Lions made it 2-0, thanks to a skilful counter-attacking move from Santin. After Dame N’Doye had helped prevent successive Odense corners from troubling Wiland’s goal, the home side swept forward; Santin collecting on the far left of the field. The Brazilian beat his man before playing in Vingaard, who collected the ball perfectly in his stride to knock through Roy Carroll’s legs.
Flowing football, but brief injury worry
Four minutes later and København were on the attack again. Pospech whipped a ball in from the right to N’Doye, who – with his back to goal – laid off Santin for a spectacular first-time volley, but Carroll saved well to his right. The PARKEN crowd were clearly enjoying the football on display, but there was cause for concern in the 23rd minute when N’Doye stayed down after a collision with Carroll. The striker needed treatment on the sidelines for his left ankle, but was OK to return to the field two minutes later.
In return for the Lions’ dominance, Odense midfielder Kalilou Traoré mustered a hopeful overhead kick that was too wide to concern the FCK goal, while at the other end Santin fired a deflected effort narrowly wide of the top right hand corner.
København were chasing a third, and it came after a beautiful display of passing football on 37 minutes. Vingaard began the move with a penetrating run through the OB midfield, to spread to N’Doye who in turn passed wide to Pospech on the right. The Czech’s ball back across the penalty area was dummied by Bolaños; leaving Santin free to slot the ball into the bottom left corner for 3-0.
The game took some time to rejuvenate itself after half time, with both sides carefully making use of the possession then had in the early stages. It was OB who had the best of the opening exchanges, forcing Antonsson to slide across and block a dangerous Traoré attack, while Espen Ruud headed over from the resulting corner on 51 minutes.
Hat trick hero Santin
Another injury scare for the home side in the 54th minute, as Wiland went down over a seemingly innocuous collision after collecting a cross. The goalkeeper was OK to continue however, much to the PARKEN crowd’s relief.
Just before the hour mark Santin secured his hat trick and the game for FC København. Claudemir found Kvist free on the right wing, who in turn played an inch-perfect ball to the striker, who calmly slid in to poke the ball past Carroll for 4-0. In reply, Antonsson showed that Swedes can slide gracefully too, as he took the ball from the feet of Utaka as the striker bore down on goal.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, Absalonsen headed goalwards to force Wiland into a fine save, but OB could not break down the home defence. Indeed, in the dying minutes it was all FCK. Substitute Kristensen saw his shot deflected on 84 minutes, while N’Doye headed wide seconds later. However, the Senegalese striker finally got the goal he deserved with the last kick of the game, as he thundered home a rebound from his own shot that had slammed into the crossbar, securing a 5-0 victory for the Danish Champions.
Currently 13 points clear at the top of the Superliga, F.C. København now turn their attention to the summit of Group D of the UEFA Champions League, where a win against Barcelona at Camp Nou on Wednesday would see their 100% European record continue.
F.C. København: Wiland, Wendt, Antonsson, Zanka, Pospech, Vingaard, Kvist (C), Claudemir, Bolaños, Santin, N’Doye.
OB: Carroll (GK), Ruud, Håland, Andreasen, Christensen, Utaka, Absalonsen, Sørensen (C), Traoré, Djemba-Djemba, Gislason.
Referee: Anders Hermansen
Booked: Kristensen, Djemba-Djemba (OB), Utaka (OB), Sørensen (OB)
