It ended in a narrow defeat in Saturday’s important away match against Aarhus Fremad. FC Helsingør only managed to get the game flowing at times, and the physically strong players from Aarhus succeeded in getting the match played on their terms.
During the first five minutes or so, FCH had a lot of the ball, and a single corner was all the home side managed to create. From the start it was clear that this would be a physical game from both teams, and there was intensity in the duels right from the kickoff.
The first shot of the match fell to Jeppe Kjær after eight minutes of play, when he got past his man and was played through nicely. Unfortunately, he had drifted into an offside position, and the finish, which went narrowly over the goal, would not have counted anyway.
With 13 minutes on the clock, FC Helsingør won a free kick a short distance outside Aarhus Fremad’s box, and Nicolas Mortensen stepped up to take it. The placement of the shot was good, but Mortensen did not quite get enough whip on it, and Elias Olafsson in the Fremad goal was able to save the ball by the right post.
A minute later Aarhus came close. A cross from the right side slipped through Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard’s hands, and “Kritte” just barely managed to block an Aarhus Fremad shot. The rebound fell to another Fremad player, but Kevin Stuhr came out of his goal and made a good save to block the dangerous shot.
When we reached the quarter-hour mark, FCH came close. An Aarhus Fremad attack was cleared, and Anders Holst sent a long ball down the pitch towards Nicolas Mortensen, who in two attempts shook off his opponent and brought the ball under control. He laid it off to an onrushing Jeppe Kjær, who cut across the box. But the Fremad players were well set in defence, and Jeppe Kjær eventually had to shoot from an awkward angle, and his effort was blocked.
Ten minutes later Anders Holst had a couple of good chances to shoot. A throw-in from Jonas Henriksen just outside the Aarhus Fremad box was flicked on centrally by “TK”, and the ball landed at Holst’s feet. The veteran, however, was facing away from goal, and he could not quite turn properly for the shot, which went a good way over. A minute later Nicolas Mortensen got the ball on the left wing, and he managed to find Holst in front of goal, but the shot was blocked and went narrowly over the goal.
After 35 minutes, the home side came close a couple of times. Aarhus Fremad managed to press the game up around the FCH box, and a cross found a Fremad striker in front of goal. His shot was blocked and went straight out to yet another Aarhus player, who struck first time. Luckily for FCH, the effort went just wide. A big chance. A minute later one of Fremad’s wingers broke away down the right flank, and his curled cross found a man centrally who, despite good marking from the FCH defence, managed to get a shot away. But again the effort went wide.
Just before the break, though, FCH got a big chance when a free kick was awarded on the right side. Anders Holst whipped in a fine ball to the far post, where it was very close to a relatively unmarked Nicolas Mortensen heading it in. But Mortensen’s otherwise excellent header went narrowly wide.
Just as everyone had prepared to go in at halftime, both teams suddenly had a good chance each. A fine through ball all the way from the FCH defence sent the quick striker through. The Aarhus Fremad defence did what they could to stop Kjær, and it ended in a free kick just outside the box. Once again Nicolas Mortensen stepped up, but his shot went wide.
From the ensuing goal kick, Aarhus Fremad pushed all the way up into the Helsingør box, and it was very close to a dangerous cross could become a problem, but Jonas Henriksen managed to poke the ball over the byline. From the resulting corner Kevin Stuhr rose highest of all, and safely claimed the ball. The teams could then go into halftime with the same scoreline as when they started.
The second half began scrappy from both teams, with many duels in midfield. Neither side could really get a grip on proceedings, but FCH did gradually work their way more into the game and started to gain more control of the passing play as time went on. But Aarhus Fremad were well organised in their lines, and it never became truly dangerous.
Instead, it was the home side that created a couple of good chances. After a corner Kevin Stuhr could not get to the ball, but on the following shot he was ready and tipped the ball away. It went out to a Fremad player, but on the second attempt too Kevin Stuhr managed to tip the ball away right up by the angle of post and crossbar. But it was Aarhus Fremad who were threatening now.
When we reached the hour mark, things went wrong for FC Helsingør. Aarhus Fremad won a corner, and in front of goal Fremad’s no. 23 Andreasen headed the ball past Kevin Stuhr. A classic set-piece goal.
1-0 Aarhus Fremad
Seven minutes later FCH took Nicolas Mortensen off and sent Chris Cortez on. It was very close to paying off immediately, as Jeppe Kjær got the ball centrally and carried it up through the middle of the pitch. When he reached the edge of the box, he slipped the ball diagonally to Cortez, who shot promptly, but had to see his toe poke saved by Olafsson in goal.
A minute later it was Jeppe Kjær who was close himself. Jonas Henriksen controlled the ball well on the right side and delivered a good, low cross into the box. Jeppe Kjær was in position centrally, but his shot sailed just over the goal. Good build-up play, and a good chance for the quick striker.
Dalton Wilkins had been brought on shortly before ten minutes into the second half in place of HC “Kritte” Bonnesen, and after 75 minutes he quickly won possession out on the left side right by the halfway line. The young New Zealander carried the ball forward well and sent in a cross across friends and foes in the box. “TK” got on the ball on the right side, but his cross was sent over the byline. From the resulting corner Anders Holst laid the ball back into the box, where Jeppe Kjær was ready. Kjær shot first time, but his hard, low effort was blocked in front of goal.
After 78 minutes Morten Eskesen took Anders Holst, Frederik Christensen and Lucas Haren off, and brought on Eli Just, Oliver Kjærgaard and Teddy Bergqvist. Very shortly after that, Eli Just was close to breaking through through the middle, but he was brought down a few metres outside the box. Andreas Holm unusually took the free kick, but his shot went over the goal.
FC Helsingør tried to put Fremad under pressure, but the home side sat deep and absorbed it in their lines. We had to wait until the 88. minute before the first big chance arrived. Teddy Bergqvist got the ball on the left side and played a good, curling pass in front of goal, where Chris Cortez had sneaked in. Under heavy pressure from two defenders he got a foot on it, but the finish was shut down at the last moment.
FCH pushed hard, but the Fremad players shut things down and drew smart fouls, and then time slowly but inexorably ran out for the visitors. Right at the very end, however, FCH managed to create a big chance. Jeppe Kjær got the ball outside the box on the right side. He cut into the box and laid the ball back diagonally to Nicolaj Hansen, who had pushed forward. The centre-back shot first time, but could not keep his effort down, and the ball sailed over the goal. The home side could then let time run out and collect three points against FC Helsingør, who had to acknowledge that the restart after the coronavirus break had not gone according to plan. The next match is another away game in Jutland, when FCH visit Brabrand on Wednesday evening.
FCH: K. Ellegaard, HC “Kritte” Bonnesen (53’ D. Wilkins), A. Holm, N. Hansen, J. Henriksen, A. Holst (78’ T. Bergqvist), F. Christensen (78’ E. Just), T. “TK” Kristensen, L. Haren (78’ O. Kjærgaard), N. Mortensen (67 C. Cortez), J. Kjær
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
