FCK progress to Danish Cup semi-finals

Goals from Gabriel Pereira and Viktor Dadason either side of half time earned F.C. Copenhagen a 2-0 win over Esbjerg and safe passage to the Danish Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

With the Lions already ahead after a sterling first leg, Jacob Neestrup's side returned to Parken for one last game of 2025 and did the job to secure a 6-2 aggregate win.

“We end (the year) with a victory and with some perspective for the remaining part of the season. We have a dream that we can still become Danish champions, and that dream should never be extinguished until it is completely gone," said Neestrup afterwards.

"But it's clear that it looks difficult, and that's why it's important that we have some perspective in this cup and it's important that we have some perspective in relation to the Champions League, where with a win we can probably advance.

"So it was important that we came to terms with it on the back of a deeply disappointing autumn as a whole."

FCK end 2025 having won the league and cup double in the summer and qualified for the Champions League. However, the Lions are 12 points behind top spot in the Superliga this term. The season picks up again in February after FCK's last two League Phase outings in the Champions League.

Meanwhile,  Lukas Lerager played his 219th and final match for FCK, and came off to applause from the fans and a salute from the head coach.

“Lukas knew that he will not be in a possible cup final - but he gave everything he can for the fans in Copenhagen – for the logo, for his teammates and for his coach.

“And that is how I know Lukas, and that is also what I said to him down in the locker room: That when it's been tough for his teammates or for his head coach, we have always been able to call him and that has been really, really nice.

“When the pressure has been greatest, Lukas has been ready with the - and this is meant very positively - few means and the honest footballer that he is. We and I will of course miss that very much. And I am sure that he will be remembered as the workhorse he has been and above all for the three Danish championships, two cups, three Champions Leagues and two European knockout stages he's played in. Lukas has done well."