Stunning comeback in season opener

16/07 2012 00:07

FC Copenhagen scored four goals in 15 minutes to complete a memorable 4-2 victory over FC Midtjylland in the first game of the new Superliga season. The Lions were two goals down before a César Santin brace helped give new head coach Ariel Jacobs all three points.

by Joe Short

Ariel Jacobs named a strong squad for his first competitive game in charge of FCK, with Mos Abdellaoue earning a starting place after decent performances in pre-season. Regular Icelandic pair Sölvi Ottesen and Ragnar Sigurdsson started in the middle of defence, while Claudemir and Thomas Kristensen held the centre of midfield.

Yet Midtjylland dominated the opening throes, their defence comfortable with possession spreading play out to the wings. After just seven minutes Sylvester Igboun had a great chance in front of goal only to fluff his effort, but two minutes later he buried another chance, beating Ottesen to a low ball to fire low into the corner of the net.

The away side maintained their positive approach for the next 20 minutes, reducing Copenhagen to a small handful of half chances that never threatened Jonas Lössl in the FCM goal. Indeed, the first half played out with such little note that Johan Wiland looked as clean as he had at the start of the game when he walked down the tunnel at the break.

Lions find themselves 2-0 down

The second half saw a far more aggressive FCK take to the field, no doubt spurred on by Jacobs’ team talk. However, nine minutes into the half and Midtjylland struck again, this time through Tim Janssen. Jesper Juelsgård slipped through on the left wing and found Danny Olsen in the box, who missed his chance. However, the ball rolled on to Janssen, who picked his spot neatly from six yards out.

At 2-0 down, it was not long before Jacobs brought in the changes. On came Andreas Cornelius and new signing Nicolai Jørgensen for Christian Bolaños and Abdellaoue, and suddenly FCK found new life.

Copenhagen started to apply pressure of FCM’s back line, but could not break through. Their frustration eventually boiled over when Claudemir became involved in a tussle with Janssen. The Brazilian was aggrieved to have been fouled, immediately getting to his feet and shoving his head into Janssen’s face, leaving referee Jacob Kehlet with no choice but to dismiss the FCK midfielder.

Santin starts the fightback

As it happens, Claudemir’s dismissal completely changed the way Copenhagen played, and in fact aided their attacking options. After Igboun had narrowly missed from range at one end, FCK bounded up the other end to halve the deficit on 75 minutes, when Martin Vingaard played a neat one-two with Cornelius before playing Santin through. The striker timed his run to perfection, slipping away from his man before chipping the onrushing Lössl to find the empty net.

PARKEN was suddenly full of life, and three minutes after Santin’s strike it was Cornelius’ turn to score. Santin shifted the ball out to Jørgensen on the left, who waited for Lössl to close down the angle before rounding the keeper and pulling back to Santin. The striker saw his effort cleared off the line, only for Cornelius to bundle home the rebound and draw the scores level, 2-2.

Maybe the pressure got to Midtjylland, as with nine minutes to go Erik Sviatchenko received a second yellow for taking down Cornelius on the sideline. At ten v ten, there was only one team looking for a winner.

Oviedo takes full advantage

That winner came just four minutes before time. Santin and Cornelius again linked up well but the former saw his eventual effort blocked by a steely Lössl, only to watch the ball bounce across to Bryan Oviedo, who hammered it into the top corner for 3-2!

The comeback was complete, but icing was added to an already sweet cake when Santin bagged his second of the game, finishing well from the right side of the box after Oviedo had rounded Lössl in a quick counter attack.

The game will live long in the memories of FCK fans, but most likely will be forgotten by Jacobs and his side, who must immediately turn their attention to Haderslev next Sunday, where SønderjyskE await.

FC COPENHAGEN: 4 FC MIDTJYLLAND: 2

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen, Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kristensen, Vingaard, Santin, Abdellaoue.

FC Midtjylland: Lössl, Kibebe, Bak Nielsen, Sviatchenko, Juelsgård, Olsen, Albæk, Uzochokwu, Igboun, Janssen, Hassan.

Goals: Igboun, FC Midtjylland (9’), Janssen, FC Midtjylland (54’), Santin (75’), Cornelius (78’), Oviedo (86’), Santin (90’).

Red Cards: Claudemir (71’), Sviatchenko, FC Midtjylland (81’).

Referee: Jacob Kehlet.