Second loss of season for FCK
An ankle injury sustained in PARKEN last Thursday prevented Mikael Antonsson from travelling with the Copenhagen squad to Odense: Mathias Zanka filling the vacant centre back position. Meanwhile, Thomas Kristensen was rested for Martin Bergvold, who moved to the left wing, pushing Jesper Grønkjær up front.
by Joe Short
OB had far more to play for going into the game, with their chase for second place confirmed should they claim all three points, being five ahead of Brøndby IF. And the home side showed their determination, dominating the opening stages and preventing FCK from moving past their midfield.
Indeed, the early OB pressure paid off when on ten minutes Espen Ruud fired in a powerful free kick over the Copenhagen wall and past the outstretched Johan Wiland. The goal only spurred Odense on, and only a Zanka block prevented Peter Utaka from making it two.
Copenhagen’s first real chance came in the 18th minute when N’Doye beat the offside trap on the left hand side, but his low half-volley was well saved. Zanka was forced to make two more Utaka blocks soon after as the FCK chances became limited to long balls.
Wessels on fine form
After Hans Andreasen headed over a loose ball from a corner, it was N’Doye’s turn to miss the target, flicking a cross narrowly wide. The striker would get his best chance of the match minutes later however, when a long Jos Hooiveld ball put N’Doye through one-on-one with Stefan Wessels. The OB goalkeeper came out on top, charging out to block off the danger.
On 39 minutes Hooiveld headed over the crossbar from a corner, while Bashkim Kadrii drilled wide just before half time. The second half saw a change to the FCK set up, as coach Ståle Solbakken brought César Santin on for Martin Bergvold, switching the formation to 4-3-3.
The change offered Copenhagen a greater offensive threat, and in the 55th minute N’Doye was once again one-on-one following a counter attack. His shot was again well saved by Wessels, the ball bouncing out for a corner as Santin threw his body in its path. Andreas Johansson also had an opportunity seconds later for OB, but prodded far wide of Wiland’s goal.
Utaka gets his reward
However, Johansson would not be so unlucky eight minutes later. In a swift attacking move, Rasmus Falk played Johansson through on the OB right wing, Oscar Wendt left high up the field. The Odense man took one touch to set himself, before shooting between Wiland’s legs to double the lead.
Solbakken quickly made another tactical substitution, introducing Kristensen for Hooiveld, but the home side were now more than content to sit back and let FCK play. First Grønkjær fired over before Kristensen dragged an effort wide. However, the change in tactics could do nothing to prevent Utaka finally getting the goal he deserved, his shot deflecting off Zanka, wrong-footing Wiland to make it 3-0.
A flurry of half chances for FCK came in the remaining five minutes, but Santin and Christian Bolaños both shot over the crossbar while Kristensen’s fierce effort from a tight angle was well tipped round the post by Wessels.
The defeat was only the second the Lions had suffered all season. With one match remaining – against AaB in PARKEN on Sunday – anything but a loss would confirm a new Superliga record for the Danish champions: just two lost games in an entire season. For OB, the win secures access to the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.
OB: 3 FC COPENHAGEN: 0
OB: Wessels, Ruud, Andreasen, Christensen, Utaka, Falk, Johansson, Traoré, Mendy, Kadrii, Høegh.
FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Pospech, Zanka, Hooiveld, Wendt, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kvist (C), Bergvold, N'Doye, Grønkjær.
Referee: Michael Svendsen.
Goals: Ruud, OB (’10), Johansson, OB (’67), Utaka, OB (’82).
Photo: Sportsagency.dk
