Vetokele and Jørgensen strike double
Two goals apiece from Igor Vetokele and Nicolai Jørgensen earned FC Copenhagen a comprehensive Superliga victory against Nordsjælland in PARKEN.
by Joe Short
Vetokele turned and fired from close range to hand FCK a second-half lead before netting another from Lars Jacobsen’s cross.
Jørgensen then earned and scored a penalty, and looped in a spectacular finish as the Lions moved up to third in the league.
At the other end, Johan Wiland was rarely troubled but did receive a blow to the head when he collided with Jens Stryger, but thankfully was fit to see out the game.
Watch highlights of FCK 4-0 FCN here
Nordsjælland frustrated Copenhagen in the opening ten minutes, the away side’s midfield holding a firm line as FCK passed across the pitch looking for a rare breakthrough. Thirteen minutes in and Vetokele almost delivered Daniel Braaten a tap-in after the striker worked his way into a crossing position on the left only for Michael Jakobsen to stretch and clear for a corner.
The game remained one of attrition, peppered by the occasional forward move from FCK while former Lions midfielder Martin Vingaard created two half chances down the FCN left flank. Vingaard gave Wiland his first taste of the ball 29 minutes in when he whipped a free-kick into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Just after the half-hour Copenhagen began to make ground. First Vetokele collected from Jørgensen and turned to make space in a crowded edge of the area, only for Martin Hansen to save with the right boot. Rurik Gislason then controlled and volleyed wide from range, before Hansen palmed away Daniel Braaten’s deflected header.
Quick-fire Vetokele nets twice
Nordsjælland’s Stryger was booked on 38 minutes when his knee collided with Wiland’s head as the goalkeeper swept down to collect an over-run ball. Wiland was okay to continue, while at the other end Jørgensen threatened with a curling shot that sailed just wide seconds before the break.
Copenhagen wasted little time taking the lead after the break as Vetokele netted his fourth league goal of the season with a typical striker’s finish on 52 minutes. Following efforts from Braaten and Jørgensen, Vetokele twisted on the spot to wrap his foot around a loose ball and smash it past Hansen from five yards out.
The forward was on hand to double FCK’s lead four later when he reacted superbly to Lars Jacobsen’s deep cross from the right, Vetokele arriving late into the box to covert at the far post.
Jørgensen bags two himself
The Lions’ tails were up. Gislason rattled the post with a low drive from distance on the hour. Four minutes later and Vetokele was inches away from hit hat-trick but couldn’t stretch far enough to covert Jacobsen’s low centre.
It was soon 3-0 when Jørgensen tucked away a penalty he earned himself, the winger side-footing into the bottom left corner after Jakobsen accidently tripped him in the outside corner of the box.
Clearly Jørgensen wanted some of the limelight, for on 72 minutes he scored the goal of the game with a superb looping effort. Having worked himself into space on the right edge of FCN’s area, the 22-year-old curled his shot away from Hansen, who couldn’t get a big enough hand on it to prevent the net bulging.
Lions see out the clock
Ståle brought on Christian Bolaños and Youssef Toutouh for Braaten and Gislason after the strike, before Vetokele earned a deserved rest as FCK’s new record goalscorer César Santin entered the field for the last 13 minutes.
The substitutes gave fresh legs to Copenhagen’s midfield and they controlled much of the ball for the remainder of the game without seriously threatening Hansen’s goal. Defensively, Ragnar Sigurdsson remained alert to stop Mario Ticinovic breaking through and there was a feeling of a job well done when referee Jakob Kehlet brought proceedings to a close.
Watch highlights of FCK 4-0 FCN here
Copenhagen will now prepare for their UEFA Champions League game with Galatasaray in PARKEN this Tuesday before an away trip to Esbjerg next Sunday.
FC COPENHAGEN: 4 FC NORDSJÆLLAND: 0
FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen, Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Delaney, Claudemir, Gislason, Jørgensen, Vetokele, Braaten.
FC Nordsjælland: Hansen, Ticinovic, Gregor, Jakobsen, Mtiliga, Stokholm, Petry, Christiansen, Stryger, Vingaard, John.
Goals: Vetokele (52’, 56’), Jørgensen (66’ pen., 72’).
Referee: Jakob Kehlet.
