Strikers earn three points in PARKEN

27/11 2011 21:08

Head coach Roland Nilsson had to contend with two major absences from his squad ahead of FC Copenhagen’s Superliga tie against HB Køge. With Dame N’Doye suspended and Christian Bolaños carrying an injury, Morten Nordstrand came into the attack while there was a welcome first start in eight months for Martin Vingaard on the right wing.

by Joe Short

It was top versus bottom in the Danish Superliga, with Copenhagen looking to increase their lead over second-place FC Nordsjælland. The Lions got off to a good start, progressing up the pitch, but causing little problems for the Køge defence. On seven minutes Sölvi Ottesen came close to an in-swinging corner, while moments later César Santin got in behind the back line, but his chance led to nothing.

On 14 minutes FCK squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead. Vingaard shot direct at goal following determined work from Lars Jacobsen on the right wing. The effort was blocked and fell to Santin who, from four yards out, hit Thomas Christensen rather than the back of the net, the ball cleared to safety.

At the other end Johan Wiland had to be alert to Køge’s counter-attacking threat, Adeola Runsewe curling an effort around Ragnar Sigurdsson but not the Swedish keeper. Jacobsen then showed his attacking promise by bombing forward and cutting a fine effort just wide from outside the box.

Køge pressure pays off

Following Jacobsen’s chance came a period of high Køge pressure, as the away side looked to boost their target of staving off relegation from the Superliga this season. On 32 minutes Marcel Rømer headed on a floated cross towards goal, but Wiland pulled off a neat save. Three minutes later and again only an alert Wiland prevented Køge taking the lead, this time tipping over a deft Simon Christoffersen chip.

The siege couldn’t hold out however, and just a minute after Christoffersen’s effort Køge took the lead. Christoffersen himself met the resulting whipped corner, slipping his marker in the process to head his side in a 1-0 lead. Copenhagen could muster only a wide Vingaard free kick in response before half time.

The break saw a resurgent FCK side enter the PARKEN pitch, with instructions to the full backs to push on with freedom. This Bryan Oviedo did this with much confidence, hitting the Køge byline and playing across goal to where Santin – stretching – narrowly missed contact. The same chance would generate the same result minutes later, after a Vingaard effort sailed over the crossbar, set up by Nordstrand’s clever back heel.

While Oviedo showed his prowess as a bombarding full back, he displayed his defensive qualities as well. With Jacobsen caught out of position, the Costa Rican filled in, forcing Runsewe wide before timing his tackle perfectly, preventing the striker a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Jacobsen himself proved his resilience, throwing his body in front of Christoffersen as the striker shot from point-blank range on 68 minutes.

Two goals in a minute from front men

Jacobsen’s block would come to be the turning point in the game, as four minutes after his heroics Copenhagen equalised. Santin contested a loose ball in the Køge box with Sørensen, which resulted in the defender pulling the Brazilian down. Referee Michael Tykgaard immediately awarded a penalty, although the HBK players argued Santin had fouled his man beforehand. Santin himself stepped up to convert the spot kick.

At 1-1 PARKEN founds its full voice again, and the FCK fans began hoping for a winning goal. They weren’t to be left for long, as less than a minute after the equaliser Nordstrand smashed home an Oviedo cross to put the Lions 2-1 up. The goal was no more than Nordstrand deserved after a hard-working performance. However, credit must also go to Oviedo, who earned the right to his assist by forcing his way past three Køge defenders.

Copenhagen closed ranks after the goal, determined not to let their lead slip. A tense final ten minutes saw Køge play three up front, but the away side could not break down a solid FCK back line. Køge’s best chance of an equaliser came in the dying seconds, Runsewe finding space in the Lions area, but Wiland came out and smothered his attempted lob to make sure the Danish champions maintained their four-point lead on the league title.

FC COPENHAGEN: 2 HB KØGE: 1

FC Copenhagen: Wiland (C), Jacobsen, Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Vingaard, Kristensen, Claudemir, Diouf, Santin, Nordstrand.

HB Køge: Jensen, T. Sørensen, Christensen, Hansen, A. Sørensen, Runsewe, Rømer, Kronborg, Storm, Madsen, Christoffersen.

Goals: Christoffersen, HB Køge (36’), Santin (73’), Nordstrand (74’).

Referee: Michael Tykgaard.