Stadsgaard strike seals derby victory

21/10 2012 21:06

Kris Stadsgaard’s first-half strike was enough to earn FC Copenhagen a vital 1-0 win against Brøndby IF in front of 30,000 fans in the second derby of the season.

by Joe Short

Top faced bottom in the Superliga on Sunday as PARKEN welcomed a bumper +30,000 to the derby clash between FC Copenhagen and Brøndby IF. FCK head coach Ariel Jacobs named a strong squad with just Nicolai Jørgensen and Igor Vetokele absent through injury.

Copenhagen’s midfield opened up BIF within the first minute: Christian Bolaños receiving a decent ball in the box but side-footing his effort into goalkeeper Michael Tørnes’ hands. The winger came even closer on five minutes when he drilled a half-volley through a BIF defender’s legs and narrowly wide on the left post.

FCK continued their early dominance and just 12 minutes into the game took the lead when Kris Stadsgaard reacted instinctively to convert Claudemir’s headed flick-on from a corner. The defender got down well to the ball as it was running out of play and fired high into the roof of the net through Tørnes’ hands.

BIF work back into the game

Brøndby had their first chance of the game when Quincy Antipas blasted over from the edge of the area on 16 minutes, while Johan Wiland was not troubled by Jan Kristiansen’s weak strike two minutes later. Brøndby had worked their way back into the game and were it not for a great interception from the backtracking Thomas Kristensen, Antipas would have been through with 40 yards in front of him.

Midway through the first half Jacobsen got in behind the BIF defence after a neat one-two with Andreas Cornelius, but his touch let him down and the eventual shot trickled harmlessly to Tørnes. Seconds later and Bolaños had his third opportunity of the game, sending wide a free header in front of goal from Kristensen’s teasing cross.

Brøndby continued to grow into the game and forced three corners down their left flank but to no avail, while Kristiansen pulled a long-range effort wide after Wiland flapped a high cross from the left. At the other end, had César Santin been six inches taller, he may have converted Pierre Bengtsson’s high cross after the left back stormed down the flank to whip in a delivery.

Jacobs’ half-time quotes

The half-time break saw no changes to FCK’s eleven and Jacobs spoke at half time to give his judgment of the first half:

- I was satisfied for the first 20 to 25 minutes but after that we dropped off too early and gave them a way back into the game.

- We should fall back to the way we played in the first 20 minutes.

The break also launched FCK’s week against racism in accordance with FARE, with a half-time message and terrace display showing Danish football’s fight against racial discrimination.

The second half started slowly but were it not for a suspect linesman’s offside flag on 48 minutes Cornelius would have been through against Tørnes, while six minutes later a deflected Bolaños effort had to be palmed away by the BIF goalkeeper. On 58 minutes Jacobsen had a golden chance to make it 2-0, but the captain headed a free opportunity wide of goal from six yards out – completely unmarked!

Vetokele introduced but limps off early

On 66 minutes Santin was offered a scoring opportunity in front of goal after Bolaños had worked well down the right to send in a low ball, but Mike Jensen got a vital boot in the way to clear the danger as Santin struck. It was the Brazilian’s last act of the game as Igor Vetokele was introduced to replace him moments later.

Vetokele got straight into the action and was wrongly flagged offside from Cornelius’ smart flick, a decision which led to Brøndby heading down the other end and almost scoring through Jensen, but for the agility of Wiland in goal. Wiland again had to get down to block an Antipas effort with 15 minutes remaining as BIF pushed forward looking for an equaliser.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes FCK applied the pressure with a number of corners but TK was the only one to get a shot away – blazing an effort high over the crossbar. Vetokele, who had been away from the first team for a long period through injury, clearly couldn’t continue and was quickly subbed back off for Rurik Gislason.

FCK hold on for derby-day victory

Copenhagen’s efforts to secure the points turned almost comedic on 88 minutes when Bolaños broke free, hit Tørnes twice with one-on-one shots before Gislason attempted a freak overhead kick that did nothing to threaten the BIF goal.

Three minutes of stoppage time were spent mostly in BIF’s corners and eventually referee Jakob Kehlet brought the tie to a close, FCK claimed all three points in this derby clash to maintain their lead on the top of the Superliga.

FC COPENHAGEN: 1 BRØNDBY IF: 0

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen (C), Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kristensen, Vingaard, Santin, Cornelius.

Brøndby IF: Tørnes, Randrup, Dumic, Stenderup, Larsen, Rommedahl (C), Jensen, Kristiansen, Antipas, Thygesen, Christoffersen.

Goals: Stadsgaard (12’).

Referee: Jakob Kehlet.