Copenhagen fall short in shoot-out

FC Copenhagen rounded up the Copa del Sol tournament with a 4-2 defeat to IFK Gothenburg after a penalty shootout. The regular time offered a single goal for each team. The first fell to the Swedes, when Oscar Wendt was unlucky to score an own goal six minutes before time. Dame N'Doye’s very late equaliser forced the 1-1 draw, and so penalties were to be the deciding factor.

 

by Joe Short

 

Coach Ståle Solbakken chose to start the first XI that beat Vålerenga 5-1 a week ago. And, with the flow of play evidently with the Danish champions, it appeared a similar scoreline may well occur. Claudemir had the first effort on goal after five minutes, but it was too weak to trouble Markus Sandberg in the IFK net.

 

The pace of the game was favourable, but the problem in the first half for Solbakken’s side was developing this into real scoring opportunities. At the other end, Gothenburg produced little to threaten Johan Wiland’s goal. Half way through the first half the classical Jesper Grønkjær / Oscar Wendt combination was in full flow; the latter clipping a ball into the box. Christian Bolaños received it, but his header lacked power. As the half went on Claudemir, N'Doye and Zdenek Pospech all went close.

 

Claudemir concern

 

Pospech especially played a good first half, bombarding up to the right edge of the IFK box at any given opportunity. Wendt and Grønkjær on the left wing showed their pace, yet no goals came from their efforts.

 

With ten minutes before the half time whistle a shiver went through the FCK bench, as Claudemir fell to the ground after a challenge. The Brazilian midfielder stayed down for a long time, but luckily was fit enough to continue shortly after the incident.

 

It was the Lions who began better in the second half, with chances coming in quick succession. Wendt had a shot from outside the box saved by Sandberg, while N'Doye headed in towards goal that was also blocked.

 

IFK pressure eventually brings goal

 

The good times came to an end however, as IFK pushed their way into the game on the hour mark. The Danes were forced back with sustained Gothenburg pressure: Tobias Hysen twice coming close to scoring. The Swedish striker actually had the ball in the net from one effort, but play had already been stopped for a foul on Wiland. On the second chance the FCK goalkeeper dished up a world-class save.

 

As it looked to be heading for a no-score draw, the game was suddenly injected with life. It happened, however, to the shame of Wendt; who propelled the ball into his own net with six minutes left after he miss-kicked a clearance.

 

A goal down the Lions naturally pushed forward and substitute Kenneth Zohore had a good chance inside the box. More pressure followed, but it was absolutely the last attack that ended the drought, when N'Doye rose high in the air to meet a fine cross from Pospech to finally nod home.

 

Penalties needed to decide victor

 

With a 1-1 final score, the game went straight down to penalties. Martin Vingaard was the only one who managed to score, while Thomas Kristensen, Zohore and N'Doye all had to suffer the embarrassment of their efforts not being good enough from the spot. The Swedes converted three of their four efforts, resulting in a 3-1 shoot-out victory for IFK.

 

Tomorrow the squad heads back to Denmark, where the players are free for the weekend. Training starts again on Monday, while the next friendly match in preparation for the spring season is against Elfsborg, on Saturday at 13:00. The match will be played at FCK’s training facility, Number 10.

 

FC COPENHAGEN: 1 (2)  IFK GOTHENBURG: 1 (4)

 

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Pospech, Zanka, Antonsson, Wendt, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kvist (C), Grønkjær, Santin, N'Doye.

 

IFK Gothenburg: Sandberg (GK), Dyrestam, Svensson, Sigurdsson, Valgdarsson, Johansson, Eriksson, Selakovic, Drugge, Bärkroth, Hysen (C).

 

Referee: Espen Berntsen

 

Goals: Wendt, o.g. (84’), N’Doye (90+2’)