Albion beat FCK in friendly

25/07 2012 21:06

FC Copenhagen were defeated 3-0 by Premier League side West Bromwich Albion in PARKEN on Wednesday evening. The scoreline didn’t reflect the Lions’ performance however, and FCK can take many positives out of the clash…

by Joe Short

The friendly included a heart-felt goodbye to Lions legend Dame N’Doye at half time. The Senegalese international, who played 150 games for FCK, has signed a deal with Lokomotiv Moscow. N’Doye scored a record 82 goals for Copenhagen in four seasons, and received a warm send-off in PARKEN.

Back to the action, and Ariel Jacobs made a variety of changes as FCK used this game to prepare for UEFA Champions League qualification. Pierre Bengtsson and Kris Stadsgaard came into the back four while Pape Pate Diouf and Andreas Cornelius were handed starting roles up the field.

In a West Brom shirt were Peter Odemwingie and Marc-Antoine Fortuné among other Premier League regulars. The match started at a face pace for a friendly, with Diouf being set free on the right wing a couple of times in the opening stages.

Diouf effort well saved

But the game truly bloomed into life 16 minutes in, when West Brom’s Steven Reid struck a wonderful free kick to open the scoring. The full-back bent his shot around the wall on the right edge of the area, clipping the ball off the crossbar and past Kim Christensen.

Copenhagen looked to hit back immediately, and sent two goalward shots towards Luke Daniels’ goal from Nicolai Jørgensen and Claudemir shortly after. But Daniels really had to be on his toes to prevent Diouf scoring from way out, the keeper back-pedalling to tip Diouf’s 30-yard effort over the bar on 24 minutes.

Cornelius then went close on the half hour after an explosive break down the right flank from full-back Lars Jacobsen, before Christensen was forced to punch clear a deep cross with Fortuné challenging. Little happened during the rest of the half bar an injury scare for Jacobsen, who walked off the pitch just before the break with boot and sock off his right foot, heading straight to the physio room.

FCK pepper Brom box

Head coach Ariel Jacobs made a number of changes at half time, bringing on Søren Frederiksen, César Santin, Christian Bolaños, Bryan Oviedo and three others. Claudemir was the first to try his luck on goal when a sliced kick from Daniels eventually fell to the midfielder, but he screwed his effort wide.

Their early pressure wouldn’t relent, with various corners at the Unibet Stand end, but after an hour Copenhagen could still not find a breakthough. Santin almost rounded off a marvellous FCK move but Daniels was equal to the striker’s low effort. Cutting in from the left wing, Oviedo found Claudemir who laid off to Santin. The Brazilian’s shot – 14 yards out – was too close to Daniels however.

With 20 minutes to go West Brom brought on Zoltan Gera to bolster their midfield as FCK continued to move forward but unfortunately with no results. Gera was immediately in the action, aiding Simon Cox to a low shot just wide of Christensen’s left-hand post.

Goal flurry in stoppage time

At the other end Christensen pulled off a marvellous save to tip over a fierce Albion effort, as the clock ticked down towards full time. A dogged double block from Ragnar Sigurdsson prevented Albion from adding to their lead, while at the other end Bolaños spearheaded a counter attack but shot wide from distance.

In the closing stages of the game Christian Grindheim unleashed a bending left-footed drive from 20 yards that Daniels matched, tipping the ball round the post. But in the final minute West Brom made it 2-0 with Shane Long’s slotted penalty. The striker forced his way past Peter Larsson, the FCK defender stretching out a leg but getting none of the ball, and Long stepped up to score the spot kick.

Copenhagen almost halved the deficit moments later when Oviedo showed promise hitting the left byline, but his lay-off to Santin only saw the ball fly over the crossbar. Oviedo would soon find the net, but sadly in the wrong end as Gabriel Tamas’ shot deflected off the Costa Rican’s legs and into an unguarded goal.

A 3-0 loss certainly doesn’t show the full story of the game, with Copenhagen dominating much of the match but unable to force through a sturdy back four.

FC COPENHAGEN: 0 WEST BROMWICH ALBION: 3

FC Copenhagen: Christensen, Jacobsen, Ottesen, Stadsgaard, Bengtsson, Diouf, Claudemir, Bergvold, Jørgensen, Cornelius, Abdellaoue.

West Brom: Daniels, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Morrison, Dorrans, Odemwingie, Fortuné, Tamas.

Goals: Steven Reid, West Brom (15’), Shane Long, West Brom (90’), Gabriel Tamas (90’).

Referee: Michael Johansen.