Strikers seal New Firm victory
by Joe Short
FC Copenhagen extended their unbeaten run in the Superliga to seven games as Igor Vetokele and Nicolai Jørgensen stole the show in the Brøndby Stadion.
Vetokele cancelled out Ferhan Hasani's strike two minutes after the opener before Nicolai Jørgensen sent FCK into the lead on the half-hour.
Vetokele extended the Lions' advantage on 34 minutes to complete a furious first half that the second failed to emulate.
The win keeps Copenhagen in third place, six points behind league leaders FC Midtjylland and three clear of BIF.
Frantic opening period
Ståle Solbakken made changes to the Lions squad that suffered defeat at Juventus in midweek, Christoffer Remmer earning a place at right-back while Thomas Kristensen started in the centre of midfield alongside Thomas Delaney. Vetokele, with four goals in three games, started up front with Claudemir on the right.
Despite the fresh legs it was Brøndby who took the lead on 23 minutes after a cagey opening. Goalkeeper Lucas Hradecky had denied Jørgensen moments before Hasani thundered BIF in front with a stunning strike from 30 yards.
Vetokele soon levelled the scores, however, when he pounced on an Olof Mellberg knockdown header and stabbed the loose ball into the corner of the net from six yards out.
FCK take the lead
Copenhagen's travelling fans barely had time to sit down until they were up on their feet celebrating a second goal - this time Jørgensen producing a piece of magnificence. The striker picked up the ball from deep and beat two Brøndby players before nestling a ranged effort over Lucas Hradecky and into the net, the goalkeeper well beaten.
And three minutes later it was 3-1, when Vetokele latched onto Claudemir's long ball, outmuscled Michael Almeback on the edge of the area and slotted neatly past Hradecky with his left foot.
The second half saw few fewer efforts than the first as FCK sat back, content to watch Brøndby pass it across their defensive line. Vetokele and Jørgensen both went close with shots from distance before the former withdrew from the action on 65 minutes, while Thomas Delaney required perfect timing when challenging Riza Durmisi to avoid conceding a penalty.
Lions see game through
Hradecky also denied Thomas Kristensen with a strong-handed save to his left 15 minutes before time while Johan Wiland was barely troubled at the other end. One worry for FCK was Jørgensen, who limped off clutching his left hamstring as the fourth official put up three minutes of stopped time, Ståle unable to bring on any more subs.
The 10 men held on, however, for a win that places the Lions in good spirit ahead of their DBU Cup clash with Lyngby on Wednesday.
BRØNDBY IF: 1 FC COPENHAGEN: 3
Brøndby IF: Hradecky, Almeback, Holst, Dumic, Durmisi, Ørnskov, Phiri, Hasani, Kahlenberg, Szymanowski, Zohore.
FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Remmer, Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Kristensen, Claudemir, Delaney, Toutouh, Jørgensen, Vetokele.
Goals: Hasani, BIF (23'), Vetokele (25', 34'), Jørgensen (31').
Referee: Michael Tykgaard.
