FCK into Conference League Q3 with win over Polissya

Goals from Mohamed Elyounoussi and Robert Silva eitehr side of half time earned F.C. Copenhagen a 2-1 victory on the night – and a 5-4 aggregate triumph – over FC Polissya in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round in Parken on Wednesday.

Elyounoussi converted from the penalty spot on 27 minutes, while Robert wrapped up a blistering counter attack spearheaded by Mads Emil Madsen to put the Lions two up.

The Ukrainians, who played against 10-man FCK for most of the second half after Junnosuke Suzuki was sent off, hit back through Borys Krushynskyi in stoppage time but the Lions held on for a hard-fought victory.

"I'm happy and proud of the way the players gave everything here in the third game in six days, but it's clear that we can and must still improve," said head coach Bo Svensson afterwards.

"The first week was about advancing in Europe and getting a win against Lyngby, and we succeeded. But we were in trouble again today, not least when we were reduced to 10 men right after the break. But also before the break, when it was definitely not the plan for them to have the initiative so much.

"We would have liked to have been higher up the pitch, but we didn't get close enough to them and we didn't pass enough ourselves. They showed again tonight that they are a well-trained and well-coordinated team, making very few technical mistakes, and without that being an excuse, they didn't play a match three days ago either.

"But we talked at half time about pushing further forward and being on the ball more, but that plan went with the early red card."

Suzuki was given a straight red for a foul on Igor Krasnopir just outside our penalty area.

Svensson added: "I thought that it would be a long second half, but I didn't see any signs of giving up on the pitch, and the boys did everything they could to win it back in the second half.

"And then Robert was just decisive for us again by forcing the penalty in the first half and by scoring the second goal on Mads Emil's great assist.

"As I said, it was first and foremost about getting ahead, and the players did a great job of standing together when it mattered."