UEFA Cup it is
Two weeks ago F.C. Copenhagen lost 2-1 to Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal. This meant victory was needed if F.C. Copenhagen were to advance to the UEFA Champions League group stage, and right from the start of the game, the Danish champions seemed poised to give the 40.000 spectators just that!
By Jan Eliassen
After just 5 minutes the first of a series of big chances came, but Nordstrand missed the goal. Two minutes later a corner from Niclas Jensen to Brede Hangeland was cleared off the line by Leo. Quim, the Benfica goal keeper, sensed that F.C. Copenhagen and the pressure from the fantastic crowd in PARKEN would give him a busy night – and after just 10 minutes he started delaying the game at any given opportunity – and was rightfully warned by Dutch referee Bramhaar.
One chance, one goal
After 17 minutes Benfica was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. On a good build-up play from Rui Costa the ball ended up at the foot of Greece international Katsouranis, and he sent the ball past Jesper Christiansen in the Danish goal.
Danish players in brilliant form
Except allowing Benfica to score their goal, F.C. Copenhagen was doing everything right. Lead by Atiba Hutchinson, F.C. Copenhagen threatened Quim on several other occasions, including a Niclas Jensen free kick that hit the post, and another header was cleared on the line. Everyone watching the game just wondered how long it would take before F.C. Copenhagen would tie the game or even take the lead ?
Around the 25th minute came a controversial situation when Nordstrand found Allbäck who timed his run perfectly, just to see himself brought down inside the box, a clear penalty, but not according to the referee. This meant angry and loud reactions from the players, the bench and the close to 40.000 in the stands, but Bramhaar just said “play on” and all F.C. Copenhagen got was a yellow card to Atiba.
The rest of the first half saw a dominant Danish side showing all its international class, and a Portuguese side who did nothing but defend – but as they defended very well, and when Allbäck missed a wide open header from just a few meters out, it all ended up with Benfica leading 1-0 at halftime.
Second half - and time running out
What Benfica’s Coach Camacho told his players during the break, we don’t know, but his team showed much more skill and spirit in the second half. They played well and also had their chances to build on the lead, but they all failed thanks to good Danish defending – and a solid Jesper Christiansen in goal!
In the other end of the pitch, F.C. Copenhagen kept putting pressure on the Portuguese, and also came very close when first Hangeland headed just over – and especially when Czech international Libor Sionko fired a rasping drive past the post.
As the clock was getting closer and closer to 90 minutes, F.C. Copenhagen pushed Michael Gravgaard up front in a last desperate attempt to get the equaliser, and he also came close just a few minutes from time, but once again Quim did his job in the Benfica goal, and so the game ended with 0-1, which sends Benfica into the UEFA Champions League group stage.
F.C. Copenhagen will get its "second chance" in the UEFA Cup. The draw for the UEFA cup will take place Friday 31st August in Monaco at 1300 CET.
Note: In the Champions League group stage Benfica ended up in Group D together with AC Milan, FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic.
