FC Helsingør were clearly the better side in the first half of Monday’s match, but in the second half Silkeborg IF turned the tables, and with two goals the Midtjylland side could leave victorious from FC Helsingør’s first match in the promotion round.
It was the home side from Silkeborg that started best in the first five minutes. The lively SIF players passed the ball around well among themselves, and also worked their way to a couple of crosses and a single corner kick, without anything really dangerous coming of it. But then FC Helsingør worked their way more into the game, and after ten minutes of play, quick ping-pong passing between Callum McCowatt and Eli Just led to a corner kick. It was in front of goal, close to where Liam Jordan could have headed on goal, but Silkeborg’s defence were alert and closed down the chance.
After fifteen minutes Carl Lange got the ball centrally. He took a touch past a man and laid the ball out to Philip Rejnhold on the right side. Rejnhold cut inside into the box and played a flat cross across the six-yard box. In front of goal Callum McCowatt was centimeters away from being able to slide the ball into the net, but the New Zealander was just a moment too late. Big chance for McCowatt.
A few minutes later it was close at the other end, when a free kick on the left side was whipped dangerously into the box by Magnus Mattsson. Nicklas Helenius was very close to heading it in, but Nikolaj Hansen got up and just managed to put enough pressure on the striker for him to send the ball over the goal.
With 23 minutes on the clock, Liam Jordan received a good ball from his own ranks and pulled away from his man on the right side. He still had another marker alongside him, but beat him with a clever feint and drove into the box, where he played a good, curved cross in between goalkeeper and defence. But unfortunately the rest of the team were not as alert, and there was no FCH player to get on the ball, which Silkeborg cleared for a corner. SIF also cleared that after a couple of attempts, until the ball eventually fell to Frederik Juul, who sent a fine effort toward the far corner, but unfortunately just wide of the post as well.
Just as we reached the half-hour mark, FCH got their biggest chance so far. Liam Jordan carried the ball up through the middle and played the through ball to Carl Lange at exactly the right moment. Lange got through the defensive line, but had drifted a little wide, and Gunnarsson in the Silkeborg goal came out and blocked Lange’s effort with a good save. Well played by Jordan and Lange, who were on fire in this phase of the match.
Four minutes later it was Silkeborg’s turn to create their biggest chance up to that point. Helenius drove forward to the edge of the box, went past his man, and crossed to Magnus Mattsson, who rose and headed toward goal. However, the ball was a little behind Mattsson, and he had to turn and head with his back to goal. His header therefore went a little too high and hit the crossbar, allowing Kevin Stuhr to claim it.
The game was lively now, and shortly afterwards Callum McCowatt was close. Mouritsen played a flat cross into the box after a good raid down his left side, and centrally McCowatt struck the ball first time. His shot was however blocked just in time, and went out for a corner that did not lead to much.
Towards the break it was FC Helsingør who were pressing, and a well-playing Liam Jordan had several good actions, and one shot wide on a counterattack, but there were no big chances for either team before the halftime whistle, and FC Helsingør could go into the dressing room after a very well-played first half, in which they had for long periods been better and more on the ball than the home side.
The second half, however, began with a big chance for Silkeborg. After less than two minutes they won a corner that was sent dangerously into the six-yard box. Under heavy pressure Kevin Stuhr could not get a hold on the ball, and had to settle for blocking it back into the area. Luckily the ball was cleared before a Silkeborg player could get a shot away.
Ten minutes into the half FC Helsingør won a free kick on the right side, just outside the box. Daniel Norouzi played the ball low and short, and in front of goal Carl Lange sent the ball just wide of the post with a good shot. Fine combination, very close to succeeding. It was the last Carl Lange did in the match, as he and Eli Just were substituted a minute later and replaced by Lucas Haren and Anders Holst.
Three minutes later Silkeborg were then very close, when a good counterattack ended with a sharp cross, which Stefan Thordarson struck first time. Luckily Nikolaj Hansen was in exactly the right place, and got down brilliantly to block the shot.
The match went back and forth more than it had in the first half, and neither team had a clear edge heading towards the 65. minute, when Silkeborg sparked a good spell in which they swarmed around FCH’s box. But led by a well-performing defensive line, and an indefatigably fighting Daniel Norouzi in the centre, FC Helsingør weathered the storm reasonably well. In the 75. minute Silkeborg thought they had scored, when a corner was headed in, but the goal was correctly disallowed for a foul.
But a minute later it was no longer going FC Helsingør’s way. Thordarson got past on FCH’s left side and played a perfect cross to Nicolai Vallys, who rose highest centrally and headed the ball unstoppably into the net past Kevin Stuhr. It was the first time in the match that FC Helsingør’s defence was caught on the wrong foot, and Silkeborg punished it promptly.
1-0 Silkeborg IF
In the 80. minute Silkeborg then struck the knife in. Nicolai Vallys beat the offside trap and broke through alone centrally. One-on-one with Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard, Vallys did not fail, and he calmly placed the ball into the corner of the net.
2-0 Silkeborg IF
Two minutes later FCH were close to reducing the deficit. Lucas Haren showed his pace and ran past his man on the right side. From there he played a flat cross into the box, where substitute David Boysen had sneaked in at the far post. Boysen was essentially free, but had just got in front of the ball and could not put it in the net.
Two minutes from time Nikolai Geertsen was shown a yellow card, as he stopped a counterattack, and since he already had a booking, that was the final nail in the coffin for a poor half for FCH, and Geertsen had to head for an early shower with a red card.
Silkeborg could then calmly see out the win, and FC Helsingør had to swallow their first defeat of the spring season. FCH get the chance to bounce back already on Friday, 09 April, when we welcome HB Køge at home. It is at 19.00, and as always the match can be seen on viaplay.dk.
Ellegaard(M), N. Mouritsen, N. Hansen, N. Geertsen, P. Rejnhold, Norouzi (87 Ainsalu) F. Juul Christensen, E. Just (56 Holst) L. Jordan (86 O. Kjærgaard), C. Lange (56 Haren), C. McCowatt (73 D. Boysen)
