Senegalese strength

Thomas Delaney and Jesper Gronkjaer were both handed a starting place in Staale Stolbakken’s line up for FCK’s away tie in Odense, as Cesar Santin and Martin Vingaard were rested following the team’s tough victory over BATE Borisov in the week.

 

By Joe Short

Although OB were backed by a strong Funen crowd, it was Copenhagen who got off to the better start; the Danish champions looking comfortable in possession, spreading the ball around as though they were at PARKEN. Indeed, it took the Lions just two minutes to create their first chance: Delaney nicked the ball in midfield to set up his own driving effort straight at goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

 

But it was not long before FCK pressed again, and this time with better results. A quick exchange between Claudemir and Oscar Wendt set the left back free on the edge of the area. A deflected cross lofted high above the defence, and it was Dame N’Doye who used his strength to claim the right to the ball. His header beat Carroll at his near post to send FCK into the lead just nine minutes in.

 

Immediately after the goal it was clear why Copenhagen were playing so well. With Gronkjaer dropping deep, the away side were packing the midfield too tightly for OB to play the ball. This is not to say Copenhagen were home and dry however, as Johan Wiland soon realised as he pulled off adecent save from the boot of Hans Henrik Andreasen.

 

This effort seemed to generate life into the home team, as FCK defended deep; happy to see their opponents passing along their back line. Indeed, OB midfielder Eric Djemba Djemba was criminal of dallying in the middle of the park in the 21st minute, as Claudemir stole the ball off him. A quick counter by N’Doye dragged the defence out of place, and he was able to play a delightful ball into Gronkjaer’s path. The striker showed perfect composure in the box to round an oncoming defender, and knock the ball past the keeper.

 

After the goal came a spell of poor ball retention from both sides, as neither seemed confident in possession. Copenhagen were happy to sit back, while OB looked nervous when they played it forward. OB were forced to make a substitution soon after the goal: Roy Carroll appearing to have strained his hamstring in his attempt to stop Gronkjaer’s effort.

 

One well-worked move put an end to the scrappiness however, as – on the half hour mark – Peter Utaka ran on to a ball down the left. He tricked Solvi Ottesen to gain space, reached the by-line and cut the ball quickly back for Rurik Gislason to tap home. A sloppy goal to concede considering how tight FCK’s defending had so far been.

 

This goal gave OB renewed hope and they proceeded to dominate possession. A superb save from Wiland kept the home side at bay on 40 minutes, and moments later had to produce a commanding punch to clear away a dangerous looking cross. At the other end, only Wendt could create a half chance on goal before the break, as his drilled shot took a deflection when other options were not available.

 

At half time Solbakken was forced to make a substitution as Mikael Antonsson was replaced by Mathias Zanka Jørgensen due to injury.

 

The second half started much like the first, with Copenhagen ruling possession. First they forced substitute keeper to be on his guard after a through-ball from Claudemir almost played N’Doye in, and shortly after a deft flick by Gronkjaer from a corner had the OB keeper again on his toes.

 

It was Odense who struck next however, to create a nervous feeling not too dissimilar to that felt when Borisov thundered in their equaliser four days previous. Just before the hour mark, another OB attack down their left wing by Espen Ruud created havoc in the FCK defence, who was able to chip a ball over to Hans Henrik Andreasen, beating Zanka to nod the ball into the opposite corner.

 

Copenhagen’s frustration at letting their two-goal lead slipwas evident: William Kvist needlessly fouled Djemba Djemba to receive a yellow card, sending the Nigerian into five agonising rolls on the ground. Indeed, the game fell into a scrappy affair after the equaliser, and only recovered in the final ten minutes. An attacking substitution from OB manager Lars Olsen led the home side to look for the winner. And they almost got it as Traore hit a bullet of a shot towards the corner of the FCK goal, but Wiland was again onhand to pull off a terrific arching save.

 

Even with OB’s mounting attacking presence, with five minutes to go the Lions mustered a spell of possession themselves. Patient build up in midfield eventually paid off for the away side, as with two minutes left Claudemir found himself with time to turn in the midfield and play an inch-perfect pass through to N’Doye. The Senegalese striker needed no second chances, opening the ball out from his feet before sliding the ball past the advancing keeper, and celebrating with the FCK crowd before the ball had even touched the back of the net.

 

A nervous four minutes of stoppage time followed, but OB failed to create anything from it: resorting to long balls that were easily dealt with by the two FCK central defenders. Eventually the referee brought the game to a close to confirm another victory for the Lions and keep them top of the league for another week.