Strikers hit form against Silkeborg

28/08 2011 23:56

It was back to Superliga action for Roland Nilsson and his squad after European defeat in midweek saw FC Copenhagen fall into the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. Top of the league going into the fixture, FCK faced a tricky Silkeborg IF team still looking to find their feet in the new season.

by Joe Short

Silkeborg suffered an early setback when defender Christopher Poulsen was forced to retire from the game through injury on five minutes, being replaced by Christian Holst. The reshuffling still didn’t prevent SIF to make a steady start to the game; only Johan Absalonsen forcing any sort of threat towards the away side’s goal, but his shot was blocked before goalkeeper Lasse Heinze saved from Thomas Delaney.

Heinze looked on fine form, and were it not for some good FCK fortune he would have been praised more for a block made in the 13th minute, when Dame N’Doye shot from close range into the advancing keeper. However, the ball spilled out for César Santin to nonchalantly chip over both striker and keeper into an unguarded net. The finish was sublime, mirroring the save just seconds before.

Copenhagen’s 1-0 lead spurred on the home side, who regained much of the ball after the restart and dictated play. However, creating chances was difficult and it was Silkeborg who offered the real danger. First Marvin Pourié tried a flash overhead kick from five yards out, but couldn’t connect properly: before Martin Ørnskov shot low into Johan Wiland’s chest just before the half hour.

N’Doye keeps calm to double lead

A mistake from Johnny Thomsen let Jesper Bech in on goal on 31 minutes, but the striker dallied too long on the ball, which gave the FCK defence enough time to regain control of the situation. Copenhagen should have then made it two when a spilled Absalonsen shot eventually fell to Santin. The Brazilian feigned one way and went the other, rounding Heinze, but his finish hit the keeper’s outstretched glove.

Just before half time, however, the Lions made it 2-0 in the simplest of fashions. Santin dropped deep to pick up a forward ball, turned and played N’Doye directly through on goal. The Senegalese rounded Heinze and found the net at a tight angle for his fourth Superliga goal of the season.

At 2-0 everything seemed comfortable for FCK as they left the field for half time, but the second half would prove to be a real test of their resilience. Silkeborg took the game to the home side from kick off, and were out to prove themselves as worthy opponents.

Flinta offers SIF hope

Indeed, after just six minutes Pourié had a shot saved by Wiland while Martin Svensson was booked for simulation in the box as the entirety of PARKEN held its collective breath in anticipation of referee Anders Hermansen awarding a penalty.

Christian Grindheim did well to close down Holst’s shot on the edge of the area, as FCK were forced further and further back into their own half. Changes needed to be made, and so Santin and Christian Bolaños came off for Youssef Toutouh and Morten Nordstrand respectively.

Unfortunately for Nilsson, as soon as the new players entered the field Silkeborg scored their long overdue goal. A low corner was flicked on to the back post where Dennis Flinta calmly slotted home underneath both Grindheim and Wiland to make it 2-1.

Lions battle out to victory

The goal only added to SIF’s charge, while Copenhagen had to contend themselves to occasional periods of ball retention to slow the game down. On 73 minutes Absalonsen beat his man and bore down on goal, but his effort was saved and cleared effectively. At the other end, Flinta’s long-range strike clipped the top of Wiland’s crossbar, the keeper well beaten.

As the clock timed down, Silkeborg pushed forward, leaving themselves suspect to the counter attack. N’Doye carried the ball almost the length of the field before playing Nordstrand in on the right, but the forward missed the target. Moments later and it was Nordstrand’s turn to act provider, but N’Doye could only see his shot saved.

A nasty collision saw substitute Pape Pate Diouf booked when he slipped in a 50/50 challenge and gorged a SIF player with his studs, while N’Doye tried his luck from his own half as the game entered stoppage time. In the dying seconds Kasper Risgård broke free but again the Silkeborg player found Wiland instead of the goal, as FCK ran out 2-1 winners in a well-fought game.

The match not only proved Copenhagen’s hardy resilience to defend out a win, but also showed the effects of a midweek fixture in the Czech Republic. Thankfully, a rest is now in store for FCK, whose next fixture comes after the international break, away to Lyngby BK on 10 September.

FC COPENHAGEN: 2 SILKEBORG IF: 1

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Thomsen, Zanka (C), Ottesen, Bengtsson, Absalonsen, Grindheim, Bolaños, Delaney, Santin, N’Doye.

Silkeborg IF: Heinze, Pedersen, Rasmussen, Jakobsen, Flinta, Svensson, Hansen, Ørnskov, Poulsen, Bech, Pourié.

Goals: Santin (14’), N’Doye (42’), Flinta, Silkeborg IF (66’).

Referee: Anders Hermansen.