FC Helsingør got revenge for the weekend’s defeat in Aarhus when they beat AGF 1-0 on Tuesday evening thanks to a goal by Nicolas Mortensen. The match was tactically and defensively well played by FCH, on a pitch that was still marked by the long winter and did not lend itself to polished football.
It was the home side from Helsingør who pressed from the start, and in the first minutes worked their way to crosses and corners around the AGF box, without really becoming dangerous. But after the first five minutes of pressure, AGF began to play more into the game.
After 12 minutes of play, Douglas and TK combined nicely through on the edge of the box and AGF cleared for a throw-in. TK threw long, the ball was kicked out of the box, where Anders Holst struck a hard first-time shot. Unfortunately his shot went half a meter over the goal. A creditable attempt from last round’s goalscorer.
Five minutes later FCH combined nicely up through the middle, and the ball ended up with Matheus, who finished, but unfortunately his shot from about 20 meters went a good distance over the goal.
But a few minutes later the home side capitalized on the good pressure they had established. On a cross from Matheus, who had beaten two men, AGF had to concede a corner. TK took it. He crossed perfectly, and Nicolas Mortensen rose highest in the box and headed FC Helsingør in front.
1-0 FC Helsingør
After 28 minutes, FCH had a throw-in on the left side of AGF’s half. TK threw long and precisely, and Pascal Gregor extended it into the box, where goalkeeper Jovanovic just barely saved the ball before Søren Henriksen reached it.
The minute after, it was very close to Douglas breaking through, when Nicolas Mortensen smartly flicked it on with his heel, but the Brazilian was closely marked by Niklas Backman, who blocked the shot. Fine FCH moments after the goal.
After 38 minutes Douglas was in a sprint duel with Kanstrup when he suddenly limped and grabbed his hamstring. It looked like a muscle tear, and he was promptly substituted for Daniel Stückler.
A minute before halftime, Stückler had his first big chance when Daniel Jørgensen sent a long pass up over the AGF defense. Stückler took the ball on and shot first time, but Jovanovic unfortunately got down well and stopped the shot.
Shortly after, it was close to going wrong for the home side. AGF dribbled out of the pressure on the left side and put in a cross toward Martin Pusic. Returning Mikkel Bruhn in the FCH goal first blocked the shot in two attempts, and then gathered the ball just in front of Pusic.
So FCH had to settle for going into halftime with a 1-0 lead, after being dominant in a half where AGF also had chances for one or two goals.
The second half had barely begun when AGF had a big chance. Pusic was extremely close to scoring, but Mikkel Bruhn somehow managed to stop the ball between his legs and then gather it.
Shortly after, a long pass was played up to Nicolas Mortensen, who drifted out to the left side and passed to Anders Holst. He cut in a couple of meters and shot toward the far corner, but the shot was blocked. Fine build-up between the goalscorer and a well-playing Anders Holst, who was named man of the match today.
Ten minutes into the second half, Daniel Jørgensen had a big chance when TK sent another good corner into the box. Daniel got up to it, but Jovanovic was alert and punched it away amid friends and foes.
The second half was not exactly a fireworks display of chances in the first half hour, and we had to wait until after the 71th minute before there was danger again. Anders Holst powered his way through and found Daniel Stückler, but the striker’s finish went straight at the AGF goalkeeper.
Just two minutes later it was very close at the other end. AGF got a free kick, and Tobias Sana struck it accurately around the wall, but Mikkel Bruhn just got fingertips to it and sent the ball onto the post. Things tightened for FC Helsingør in this period.
After 78 minutes the substitute Mustapha Bundu shot from just outside the box, the ball took a touch off an FCH player and dipped toward the far corner, but fortunately it sailed just over the crossbar.
Five minutes later Daniel Jørgensen found Matheus right on the edge of the AGF box, he slipped the ball to substitute Adnan Mohammad, but his shot was saved by Jovanovic, who was otherwise moving the other way when Adnan shot toward the near corner.
In stoppage time AGF won a free kick fifteen meters outside the box, but the fine set piece was safely caught by a strong-playing Mikkel Bruhn, and a minute later FC Helsingør could note its eighth win of the season after a disciplined effort from the home side, as referee Morten Krogh blew for full time.
FC Helsingør: Bruhn, Jørgensen, Gregor, S. Henriksen, Fisch, Matheus, P. Olsen, Christian “TK” Køhler, Holst, Douglas, Mortensen
Substitutes: Adnan Mohammad, Stückler, Basse
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
