TK praises Wiland performance in Lions victory
Thomas Kristensen reserved much of the credit for FC Copenhagen's 1-0 win over FC Vestsjælland on Thursday to goalkeeper Johan Wiland, who kept the home side at bay during a nervy encounter in Slagelse.
by Joe Short
Wiland shut out Thiago's one-on-one opportunity just four minutes from time to secure Copenhagen three points after Andreas Cornelius scored the game's only goal from the penalty spot.
And Kristensen, who played his third consecutive 90-minute game in the Superliga, attributed FCK's win to Wiland's performance.
- We played well in the first half, where we applied a lot of pressure and created the chances we expect to create, but we are a little disappointed with our second half, Kristensen told FCK.dk.
- We were a little half-hearted in the second half and we made some technical errors, and then we had to thank Wiland right at the last. Despite everything we got all three points.
Watch match highlights here on FCKTV
Wiland was first on hand to save Henrik Madsen's low shot on 14 minutes after Igor Vetokele had gone close for FCK with a long-range left-footed effort.
The game's pivotal moment came 39 minutes in when Rurik Gislason drew a foul in the area from Michael Christensen during an FCK counter attack down the right wing. Cornelius, who had missed his only other penalty this season, went straight down the middle as Thomas Mikkelsen leapt to the side.
- I had predetermined to shoot to the goalkeeper's left, and when I saw him going to that side I pulled a little closer to the centre than I had first decided, Cornelius told FCK.dk after the game.
- It was as expected a difficult game because FCV are very good defensively, and there are very few teams that come down here and play well. Therefore it was important that we got all three points.
Watch match highlights here on FCKTV
Cornelius should have wrapped up the victory eight minutes from time when he fired wide Pierre Bengtsson's intricate pass inside from the left, but it was Wiland who the travelling Lions fans had to thank at full time.
After a Georg Margreitter mistake let Thiago through on goal, Wiland closed down the angle and forced the striker out wide, a move that resulted in the ball flying high over the crossbar to safety.
The scare would prove to be the last of the goalmouth action as Copenhagen drew level on points with FC Midtjylland for second place in the Superliga.
FC VESTSJÆLLAND: 0 FC COPENHAGEN: 1
FCV: Mikkelsen, Nielsen, Bozga, Christensen, Kristiansen, Madsen, Bertolt, Lund, Nymann, Festersen, Hende.
FCK: Wiland, Jacobsen, Stadsgaard, Margreitter, Bengtsson, Claudemir, Kristensen, Gislason, Delaney, Vetokele, Cornelius.
Goal: Cornelius (40').
Referee: Dennis Mogensen.
