Still unbeaten in the Superleague
Martin Vingaard celebrates his winning goal
Photo: Lars Møller, Sportsagency.dk
by Joe Short
Coach Ståle Solbakken made considerable changes to his side after the Lions’ triumphant victory in midweek, with Thomas Delaney and Thomas Kristensen coming in to a restructured midfield for the trip to Horsens.
Solbakken opted for a 4-5-1 formation, rather than the 4-4-2 that saw off Rosenborg on Wednesday, and swapped Claudemir to a central attacking midfield role in place of Cesar Santin. In defence, Mathias Zanka took the place of Mikael Antonsson, who suffered from a sore ankle.
After a slow start to the game, FCK were the first to create anything substantial when a rapid counter attack involving half the team finished with Dame N’Doye heading over the crossbar from close range. At the other end, the pace of Horsens front man Gilberto was proving a tough challenge for Zanka.
After 11 minutes Delaney was able to squeeze a shot in on goal, but just three minutes later Horsens took a decisive lead when captain Niels Lodberg steered a whipped cross from the right into the far corner of the net.
FCK immediately looked for a reply, and on 16 minutes an offside flag was on hand to spare the blushed of Zdenek Pospech, as his low header just yards out from goal dribbled wide of the post.
Copenhagen’s goal finally came however, half way through the first half. Vingaard delivered a teasing ball in from a corner on the right, and it was left to Slvi Ottesen to neatly jump up, meet the ball and guide it straight past the static goalkeeper.
At 1-1 the tension increased, as both sides sensed another goal. Gilberto had an overhead kick saved magnificently by Johan Wiland, while Ottesen again found himself free in the box from a Copenhagen corner, but his header crashed onto the bar.
Five minutes before half time the home side could have won a penalty, when William Kvist slid to block a Gilberto cross. The ball certainly made contact with the midfielder’s arm, but arguably non-deliberate.
After Martin Vingaard blazed a shot over the bar one minute before half time, both sides looked contended to head into the break on an even footing. However, Claudemir’s quick throw in to play N’Doye through caused unrest in the Horsens defence, resulting in Nabil Aslam pulling down the Senegalese striker in the penalty area. A penalty was awarded and Aslam given his marching orders, but Vingaard failed to capitalise on the opportunity: Horsens keeper Søren Jochumsen pulling off a great save down to his right to keep the home side in the game.
The opening of the second half proved a tough test for Horsens, as efforts from Claudemir and recently substituted Jesper Gronkjaer rained in on Jochumsen’s goal. Horsens created chances of their own just before the hour, but Thomas Kortegaard’s free kick deflected wide off the wall, while a Gilberto header was too high to trouble Wiland in goal.
On the hour mark Santin made his entrance in place of Kristensen, but just two minutes later there was real concern for the traveling side as Ottesen went down after a seemingly innocuous challenge. The defender appeared to twist his left knee in the tackle, but was thankfully able to continue after a brief spell with the physio.
With 20 minutes to go Copenhagen were on a mission to find the winning goal. Claudemir curled a floated shot into Jochumsen’s hands, while Kvist had a shot saved after N’Doye’s initial effort was blocked just seven yards from goal. Santin then found himself unmarked six yards out, but his lay off to N’Doye was met with a weak shot from the front man.
Gilberto carved out a one-on-one chance for himself in response, but Wiland was quick off his line to smother the danger. The save proved important, as on 74 minutes FCK took the lead. Kvist played a ball through to Vingaard, whose poor touch confused his marker, and managed to wriggle free. Bearing down on goal, the winger shot low, through Jochumsen’s outstretched hands, to nestle kindly in the back of the net – much to the delight of the travelling spectators.
Following the goal came of spell of controlled possession from the Lions, as Solbakken’s side looked to run down the clock and take all three points. Lodberg had a shot deflected away from goal with two minutes to go, while FCK should have arguably sealed the tie, as both Santin and N’Doye had shots blocked in the area.
The four minutes of stoppage time was largely spent in the Horsens corners: N’Doye showing the strength and professionalism to get the job done for Copenhagen, who won a game which was arguably a stumbling block after the euphoria of Champions League qualification.
