FC Helsingør played its first home match at the new stadium on Friday evening. It became the big evening most of the nearly 1300 spectators had dreamed of, as the stadium was inaugurated with a 3-0 win. Aptly, the goals were scored by two players who, more than most, had also been part of the history at the old stadium, Nicolas Mortensen and Anders Holst.
It began with a fairly even exchange of blows during the first five minutes. The teams just needed to feel each other out, and neither of them created any major chances.
After six minutes of play, FCH had its first chance. A long delivery from Cristoffer Petersen found Jeppe Kjær on the edge of the Avarta box on the left side. The small striker managed to wriggle around his marker and send a shot towards the far corner, but unfortunately it went just past the post.
Avarta soon won a free kick twenty metres outside the box on their right side. It was played into the box, but fortunately too low, and then ”TK” could clear the danger.
After a quarter of an hour, FCH came close. Lucas Haren received the ball in stride and got past his man on the right side. He delivered a flat cross from the byline, and in front of goal it was by the skin of their teeth that the Avarta defence managed to clear the ball away before both their own goalkeeper and FCH's attackers.
A minute later it was Avarta's turn to deliver a good cross. Cosun came down the left wing and put it into the box at hip height. The ball was cleared out of the FCH box, but on the edge of the area an Avarta player was lurking. He struck it first time, but a fair way wide of goal. A big chance, but the Avarta player was clearly not fully aware of how free he was.
After 21 minutes, Hans Christian Bonnesen, who started in central defence, carried the ball forward to the edge of the box. He found Norouzi in a quick one-two and drove into the box. There he was brought down, and both players and fans appealed for a penalty, but the referee waved it away.
A minute later, Daniel Norouzi found Jeppe Kjær with a perfectly curved pass forward and in between two Avarta players. Jeppe Kjær unfortunately got a little too far into the box for his pass to become truly dangerous. But things were heating up for Avarta now.
After 23 minutes, Avarta could no longer hold out. Lucas Haren had moved over to the left wing, and he made a wild burst past his marker. Just before the byline he played a perfect cross over, finding a completely free Nicolas Mortensen, who headed with the striker's a-b-c, hard and down, and Morten Bank in the Avarta goal flailed helplessly. So Nicolas Mortensen became the man who scored the first goal at the new Helsingør Stadium.
1-0 FC Helsingør
A minute later it was close again. FCH won a free kick on the edge of the box. Anders Holst stepped up, but his free kick went a good way over the goal.
As we reached the half-hour mark, it was close to repeating itself. Haren delivered another good cross, this time from the right, and Nicolas Mortensen rose highest again. But unfortunately his header went wide of the far post this time.
FCH were dominating this phase. In particular Anders Holst, Haren and Norouzi looked lively in the short passing, and Avarta had their hands full defending.
With 37 minutes on the clock, it was once again close on several occasions. First TK found Anders Holst, as his attempt at a through ball was cleared straight to Anders Holst on the left side of the box. Holst took the shot, but keeper Bank saved. From the ensuing corner, it was close to first Nicolas Mortensen and then Lucas Haren scoring in two attempts, but both times the shots were blocked. Haren's shot in particular deserved a better fate, but keeper Bank pulled off a feverish save.
But a minute later FC Helsingør extended their lead. Bay was brought down in the box after a fine through ball forward, and this time the referee pointed firmly to the spot. Holst stepped up again, and this time there was no hesitation. He smashed it high and hard to the right of the goal, and despite Morten Bank going the right way, he could not keep the shot out.
2-0 FC Helsingør
Just before the break, an uncontainable Lucas Haren once again got past his man and cut the ball back to Nicolas Mortensen from the byline, but Mortensen's shot was blocked at the last second.
In the final moment before the half-time whistle, Avarta did however bite back a little. In two attempts the FCH defence missed their interventions, and then Avarta were able to send a sneaky shot towards goal, which fortunately went just over. At that same moment the referee blew for half-time, and FC Helsingør could go into the break after an excellent half in which they had dominated for most of the time.
The second half started at the same high tempo that had worked so well for FCH for much of the first half. However, there were no major chances in the first five minutes. Closest was a corner from Anders Holst, which Nikolaj Hansen rose highest to meet, but the header was blocked by his marker.
After the first five minutes, FCH slowed the pace a little and played the ball around among themselves. Avarta were allowed to play the ball around in their own half and were shut down as soon as they came close to the FCH goal.
But just before we reached an hour of play, Anders Holst was on the scoresheet again. Nicolas Mortensen found Lucas Haren with a fine through ball, and the winger made another dangerous run up the flank. He again played the ball flat into the box, and in front of goal Holst controlled it and smashed it hard and high into the net. Excellent build-up play.
3-0 FC Helsingør
A minute later it was close for TK to get on the scoresheet in his home debut. An FCH corner was played into the box, and after some scramble play the ball dropped to Kristensen's feet, and he struck it firmly. Unfortunately his shot was blocked on the line and went out by the near post.
After 66 minutes, Jeppe Kjær came off after a fine match and a great work rate, and was replaced up front by Douglas.
After 68 minutes, however, Avarta were close again. A free kick was played into the box, where it was cleared straight to the feet of an Avarta player. He tried to lift it over Petersen in goal and into the top corner, but the ball just cleared the goal. A huge chance for the visitors, and probably their best effort in the match up to that point.
A slightly less eventful period followed until the 75th minute, when Frederik Christensen, who had been substituted on for Thomas TK Kristensen, started an excellent attack. He carried the ball up the left wing and played it across the box. Haren cleverly leapt over a pass from a teammate, and Ricki Olsen could take the ball on and send in a cross to Nicolas Mortensen, who brought the ball down well on his chest and took a smart touch. Unfortunately he did not quite manage to get it under control before Avarta could regain possession, but it was an unusually well-played attack.
With seven minutes left, it was close again. Eli Just, who had replaced a brilliant Lucas Haren, played a cheeky one-two through the Avarta box, and with a lovely gliding move carried the ball towards goal and finished. Only a superb save from Morten Bank prevented a goal from the young New Zealander. The ball spilled to Nicolas Mortensen, who shot first time, but again Bank was well positioned and saved the shot. He was a very good man for his team on the day.
After 88 minutes, ”Eli” was close again. Douglas got the ball on the left side and found a completely free Elijah Just ten metres outside the box. The New Zealander drove towards goal and struck it as soon as he entered the box, but Bank got in the way again.
Apart from a yellow card for Anders Holst for bringing down an Avarta player who was close to launching a counterattack, there was nothing further in the match, and FC Helsingør got the perfect debut at the new home ground.
The next assignment is an away match against Hillerød, and it comes already on Wednesday. The match starts at 18.30.
FCH: Petersen, Bay, Hansen, Bonnesen, R. Olsen, Holst, Norouzi, Kristensen, Haren, Kjær, Mortensen
Substituted on: Douglas, Just, Christensen.
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
