3-0 win in Randers
Dame N’Doye was the only absentee at Essex Park, having suffered a groin strain during F.C. Copenhagen’s midweek trip to Russia. Kenneth Zohore took his place up front, while coach Ståle Solbakken also gave Martin Vingaard a rest for Cesar Santin.
by Joe Short
The match began at a decent pace, with early chances for both sides. Zohore swung a left footed shot at Randers goalkeeper David Ousted, who almost spilled into his own net but smothered the lose ball just in time. In return, Søren Jensen played Yura Movsisyan in on goal, but his lob over Johan Wiland bounced off the far post and out to safety.
The chances continued as Jesper Grønkjær had a shot deflected wide, before Ousted saved a drilled Zohore half volley on ten minutes. Eight minutes later Ousted again was on hand to stop a Zohore effort, after neat work from Oscar Wendt and Zdenek Pospech had set up the striker. Movsisyan then shot straight at Wiland seconds later.
Santin pounces on mistake
On the half hour Pospech cut inside from wide on the right and delivered a fierce shot at goal which narrowly sailed over the crossbar, but not long after that FCK took the lead. A hesitant header from Søren Pedersen gave Santin a gap to freely run in to; and the Brazilian duly took his opportunity, opening his body nicely to side-foot round Ousted for the opener. The snowball fight that ensued in the Lions fans’ celebration no doubt warmed the away following up.
A moment of concern on 33 minutes, when Wiland stayed down after a challenge by Ousmane Sarr. The goalkeeper needed treatment to his right leg, but was thankfully able to continue. Sarr blazed a shot wide a minute after the restart, while quick footwork from Christian Bolaños gave Zohore another chance, but the pass across goal fell behind the striker.
A minute into first half stoppage time, Movsisyan was booked for simulation, after the Armenian ran into the back of Mikael Antonsson just inside the penalty area. The second half began in complete contrast to the first: neither side looking likely to create a meaningful chance. It took ten minutes before Grønkjær flicked on a Wendt cross at goal, but the winger was offside. Bolaños soon after chipped over the Randers defence to Zohore, but Pedersen blocked his shot well.
Czech muscle makes it two
The lead was eventually doubled in the 60th minute, thanks to an unlikely source. Bolaños delivered a corner to the far post, only to be met by Pospech, who out-muscled his marker to head FCK 2-0 up. The right back immediately celebrated in front of the travelling supporters, who were already wallowing in the snow in merriment.
Five minutes later, Kasper Lorentzen turned well and whipped a left-footed curler at goal from outside the FCK penalty area, but Wiland did enough to tip over the bar. There were claims of handball from the resulting corner, yet referee deemed Mathias Zanka’s action as accidental, rather than deliberate. The Lions bench was no doubt momentarily scared when William Kvist went down under a strong challenge from Issah Ahmed, but the captain – who dominated the entirety of the midfield throughout the match – got up and played on.
Grønkjær fires a bullet
Pospech tried to double his goal tally on 70 minutes with another far post diving header, but this time could only hit side netting; but it was Grønkjær who made it 3-0 just four minutes later. The veteran attacked the Rander penalty area, cut inside onto his right foot and shot a rocket at goal. Ousted couldn’t even see it in time before the ball cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
Solbakken made a double substitution after the goal, and the game somewhat died out prematurely: Copenhagen happy to control possession and run down the clock. While FCK dominated possession, it was the home side that created likely goal-scoring opportunities, but Wiland was always there to gather any danger and help see out the victory.
A much needed win for the Lions after their UEFA Champions League setback in midweek, and coupled with a comfortable performance Solbakken will have been delighted by his side’s ability to get back to winning ways. A week of rest is now in store before FCK play their final Superliga match of the autumn against Esbjerg at PARKEN. The game kicks off at 15:00, with admission only 20 DKK for all fans.
RANDERS FC: 0 F.C. COPENHAGEN: 3
F.C. Copenhagen: Wiland, Pospech, Zanka, Antonsson, Wendt, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kvist (C), Grønkjær, Santin, Zohore.
Randers FC: Ousted (GK), Pedersen (C), Ahmed, Egholm, Jensen, Berg, Sane, Lorentzen, Fischer, Sarr, Movsisyan.
Referee: Kenn Hansen
Goals: Santin (29’), Pospech (60’), Grønkjær (74’).
Bookings: Movsisyan, Randers FC (45’), Ahmed, Randers FC (66’), Nordstrand (79’).
