Victory in Norway!

22/11 2012 23:12

FC Copenhagen kept their Europa League hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Molde FK. Rurik Gislason scored the winner 14 minutes from time to hand FCK a chance of progressing out of Group E.

by Joe Short

Head coach Ariel Jacobs was forced into one change from the XI that beat FC Midtjylland at the weekend: Nicolai Jørgensen failing a fitness test and being replaced by Thomas Delaney on the left wing. The midfielder proved as solid as ever and FCK controlled the game’s early phases.

Copenhagen took a while to find their feet and bar a César Santin half chance very little was made of the first 10 minutes, although Andreas Cornelius did force Espen Bugge Pettersen work with a diving header from Pierre Bengtsson’s cross that was parried away for a corner 15 minutes in.

The attacks kept on coming and FCK were soon gifted the lead when Daniel Chima body-checked Cornelius during a corner, leaving referee Michael Oliver with no option but to award a penalty. Santin stepped up to take the kick and passed the ball straight down the middle as Pettersen dived to his right, FCK taking a 1-0 lead.

Lions come close to doubling lead

Molde immediately fought to draw level with a number of corners while Kris Stadsgaard blocked a golden chance for Chima from close range. Kim Christensen was called into action to block Jo Inge Berget’s shot after the midfielder had cut across the FCK box to shoot left-footed at goal, while Sigurdsson came close at the other end but was blocked well by Pettersen.

Santin had another great chance to extend Copenhagen’s lead on 39 minutes, when Bengtsson made room for Delaney on the left to whip in a teasing cross. The Brazilian beat his man but couldn’t direct his header towards goal, the ball instead looping harmlessly into Pettersen’s hands.

Jacobs chose not to make a change at the break and Molde almost took the lead minutes in the second half, but Chima’s low effort bobbled wide of Christensen’s right-rand post. Fifty-two minutes in Bengtsson beat two men on the left and should have done better with his one-on-one effort that Pettersen managed to block away for a corner.

Gislason earns FCK victory

Molde’s pressure finally paid off just after the hour mark, when Chima headed on a low free-kick into the near post before Christensen could react. At 1-1 Copenhagen should have hit right back as Cornelius ran free on the right, but he was tackled instead of squaring for the unmarked Santin. Molde’s tails were up, and substitute Pape Pate Diouf forced a great save off Christensen on 70 minutes to keep FCK in the game.

The save would be doubly important as FCK took a 2-1 lead minutes later thanks to some determined midfield pressing. Rurik Gislason and Thomas Kristensen battled to win back possession and quickly played up field to Santin. The striker waited for Gislason to draw square before passing right into his path, the Icelander sliding home his effort in off the stump of the post.

Christian Bolaños soon replaced Cornelius as Jacobs bolstered FCK’s midfield, while Danny Amankwaa replaced Santin. On 86 minutes Chima could have scored a repeat of his earlier goal but the striker headed wide of Christensen’s post. Four minutes of added time passed without incident and Oliver blew on the dot to confirm Copenhagen’s valuable victory.

This season’s Europa League will therefore go down to the final game of Group E, with FCK, Stuttgart and Steaua Bucharest all contesting for qualification.

MOLDE FK: 1 FC COPENHAGEN: 2

Molde FK: Pettersen, Vatshaug, Forren, Linnes, Rindarøy, Hestad (C), Eikrem, Gatt, Moström, Berget, Chima.

FC Copenhagen: Christensen, Jacobsen (C), Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Gislason, Claudemir, Kristensen, Delaney, Santin, Cornelius.

Goals: Santin (pen. 21’), Chima, Molde FK (62’), Gislason (76’).

Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG).