FC Helsingør lacked the margins against a Viborg side that were sharper than in last week’s match, and ruthlessly exploited FC Helsingør’s openings and took a secure 3-0 victory when they visited Helsingør on Friday.
FC Helsingør also put themselves in a bad position, as they got the worst possible start to the match. Less than a minute and a half had been played before it went wrong for FC Helsingør. Viborg won a free kick on the right side, and Christian Sørensen lofted a ball into the box, where Sebastian Grønning was left completely free. Grønning used the inside of his foot and placed it unreachably past Christoffer Petersen in goal.
0-1 Viborg FF
We had to wait until the 10th minute before FCH got the first chance. Daniel Norouzi played a sharp diagonal ball to Nicklas Mouritsen, who sent in a low cross across the six-yard box. Right in front of goal, a Viborg defender just managed to get a saving foot to it before Liam Jordan could kick the ball in. Good build-up play from FC Helsingør, who after Viborg’s goal actually managed quite well to apply high pressure to the visitors in the first quarter of an hour.
After that, Viborg edged a little more into the match, and had a couple of decent attempts from set pieces, and one long-range effort, which Norouzi managed to clear off the line. All in all, it was a fairly even match, where both teams committed fully in the duels.
There was, however, a long way between the big chances, and we had to wait until the 33th minute for the next opportunity. It was for the visitors, when Nicolai Geertsen could not get up to a headed clearance, and the ball dropped down to Sebastian Grønning on the edge of the box. Grønning set himself up for the shot, but at the last second Philip Rejnhold came in with a sliding block and saved FCH from a goal.
Five minutes later, FCH won a free kick about five meters outside the box, and Liam Jordan stepped up to take it. He sent a curling shot toward goal, but the ball dipped a little too much, and Lucas Lund in the Viborg goal could gather it with a bit of difficulty.
Two minutes later, FCH had their biggest chance so far in the first half, when a somewhat fortunate ball into Viborg’s box suddenly fell to Callum McCowatt. McCowatt took one touch and smashed the ball against the crossbar with a thunderous strike. Inches from FCH equalizing, and unfortunate for the hard-working New Zealander.
The first half ended with a free kick for Viborg outside the FCH box, which Christian Sørensen put a meter wide of goal, and thus the teams could go into the break with a narrow lead for Viborg, after a well-played half from both teams.
Less than three minutes had been played before FC Helsingør played themselves into the first big chance of the second half. Geertsen found Mouritsen on the left side with a sharp diagonal ball over 30 meters, and Mouritsen sent in a good cross into the box, where Callum McCowatt came charging in. McCowatt tried a first-time header, but misjudged the ball and sent it over the end line a meter wide of goal.
Ten minutes into the half, Viborg showed the ruthlessness that has made them a top side in the league. Philip Rejnhold wanted to play a ball forward, but was tackled at the moment of passing, and the ball dropped to the feet of Sebastian Grønning. He drove forward, and alone with Christoffer Petersen, Grønning calmly placed the ball past the FCH goalkeeper. One chance, one goal.
0-2 Viborg FF
The goal took a bit of the wind out of the home side’s sails, who in principle moved the ball around nicely, but could not play through Viborg’s defensive lines, which put FCH players under high pressure.
In the 74th minute, substitute Lucas Haren managed to get past his marker out on the right wing, and found Liam Jordan with a good pass in front of Viborg’s box. Liam played a through ball to the onrushing Tonni Adamsen, who was on the left side. Adamsen shot at goal from a tight angle, but had to see his effort blocked. Fine build-up play from FC Helsingør.
In the 80th minute, FC Helsingør finally had the ball in the net, but, fitting for the day, the goal was disallowed for offside on Tonni Adamsen, who had just been on the wrong side of the line.
The home side tried to apply pressure to Viborg toward the end of the match, and in the 88th minute FCH had a corner, which Geertsen managed to get to, but the goal threat from the center-back put the ball over the goal. It was one of those days where FC Helsingør just lacked the final percentages. In stoppage time, Viborg had a single shot on goal from Christian Sørensen, but he had to watch a well-playing Christoffer Petersen save it with a foot stop. But in the very last moments of stoppage time, Viborg extended the lead with a cross to a completely free Jeff Mensah at the back post, who headed it in without any fuss.
0-3 Viborg FF.
So time ran out for FCH, who will have the chance to put the defeat behind them quickly and look ahead to the next match, which already follows on Tuesday the 11. It is against HB Køge away.
FCH: C. Petersen, N. Mouritsen, N. Geertsen, P. Rejnhold, A. Holst, D. Norouzi (’78 O. Kjærgaard), F. Juul Christensen, C. Lange (’67 L. Haren), L. Jordan, E. Just (’45 T. Adamsen), C. McCowatt (’67 D. Boysen)
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
