Sölvi to the double!

24/07 2011 11:04

Before kick off flowers were given to players in both squads who were affected by the tragedy in Norway on Friday, while all players wore black armbands to show their respect and support for the families affected in Oslo and Utøya. A minute’s silence was held in PARKEN between both sets of players, staff and supporters.

by Joe Short

The biggest change to FCK’s squad was top scorer Dame N’Doye, whose absence meant countryman Pape Pate Diouf partnered César Santin up front. The latter was in the action straight away, when he shot from long range after 15 seconds to the surprise of the Lions fans.

The opening stages saw OB defend resolutely, maintaining a deep line and preventing Diouf and Santin from finding much space. Indeed, the first dangerous attack of the game came from Odense, and resulted in a goal. In the 14th minute Bernard Mendy threw a boot at a loose ball that skipped off the wet turf and past Johan Wiland to give the away side a 1-0 lead.

This cushion lasted just four minutes however, as Copenhagen drew level in the luckiest of fashions. A Bolaños free kick swung high into the OB box, which Sölvi Ottesen did well to reach. His header bounced off the post, and as the ball came back into play, Ottesen fell into it, bundling it over the line, goalkeeper Stefan Wessels unable to ply it away.

Icelander keeps cool head

From the goal the Danish champions showed their class, conducting the flow and tempo of the game while remaining aware of the Funen side’s counter attacking threat.

It was not until shortly before the break that FCK struck again. And once again it was an unlikely source who scored: Ottesen getting his second of the game. Claudemir tried a shot from 14 yards out after receiving a Pierre Bengtsson free kick. His effort only got as far as Mathias Zanka however, who was stood near the penalty spot and who tried an effort himself. That shot – as weak and ineffectual as it was in threatening the goal – moulded into the perfect through ball for Ottesen: free at the far post, who showed composure to tap in his second of the game.

The second half started as bright as the first; Diouf headed meekly to Wessels, while at the other end Bashkim Kadrii’s looping volley sped wide of Wiland’s left-hand post. Bolaños thought he had scored a goal luckier than Ottesen’s first, when a shot from range ballooned off an OB leg, over Wessels, and before Santin could reach it, off the post to safety.

Odense hit back

While Copenhagen looked comfortable, they were still susceptible to the Odense counter attack. Indeed, just after the hour mark the away side showed how perseverance pays off. Attacking down the left, Kadrii whipped in a low ball that Zanka only half cleared. In fact, instead of swinging a boot at it, the Lions captain passed it into open space directly in front of goal. All that was left was for Peter Utaka to pounce and bury his effort for 2-2.

After the goal the tide turned, and Odense were suddenly the team out for the kill. Head coach Roland Nilsson made a double substitution, bringing on Johan Absalonsen and Morten Nordstrand for Thomas Kristensen and Santin respectively, as FCK looked to regain their dominance.

Nordstrand almost got a deflection of Bengtsson’s wicked half volley on 72 minutes, but Wessels saved. Bolaños then fired over moments later, while Zanka had no better luck with a tame header into the keeper’s hands. OB wasted a glorious chance on 81 minutes when Utaka hit the byline, but his target fired over.

Absalonsen rocket so close!

Bolaños made way for Youssef Toutouh with five minutes remaining, and seconds later Absalonsen sent a 30-yard bullet towards Wessels, who could only get a flapping glove on the ball. However, this was enough to see it agonisingly crash off the crossbar and out of play.

Looking for his hat trick, Ottesen headed wide the resulting corner, while at the other end Espen Ruud attempted to curl a long-range effort round Wiland’s right-hand post.

This shot proved to be the last of the game, as FCK – despite their determination – couldn’t find the room to fire on goal. A 2-2 draw is by no means a disappointment however, considering both sides in contention were the top two in the Superliga last season.

It seems the fun never stops for Copenhagen. The PARKEN doors will be open this coming Wednesday for the arrival of Irish side Shamrock Rovers, and the anticipated return of UEFA Champions League action.

FC COPENHAGEN: 2 OB: 2

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Thomsen, Zanka (C), Ottesen, Bengtsson, Claudemir, Grindheim, Bolaños, Kristensen, Diouf, Santin.

OB: Wessels, Ruud, Møller Christensen, Reginiussen, Mendy, Johansson, Andreasen, Sørensen, Kadrii, Falk, Utaka.

Goals: Mendy, OB (14’), Ottesen (18’), Ottesen (40’), Utaka, OB (63’).