FC Helsingør dominated throughout the first half, but still had to take a 1-2 defeat in Sunday’s home match against Thisted FC, as a penalty killed the momentum in the second half.
It was FC Helsingør who were clearly the better side in the first half, and less than half a minute had been played when Lucas Haren got past his man and into the box. It looked like a one-on-one, but at the last second a Thisted player came down and tackled the ball away from Haren. A good chance in the first minute.
After six minutes Haren came down the right flank and delivered a fine cross. The ball was cleared straight to Patrick Olsen, who let fly. The shot took a good arc, but Thisted goalkeeper Rosenørn got his hands to it all the way out by the post. Great finish from Patrick Olsen
After ten minutes Thisted got their first big chance. A cross was just a little too high for Mikkel Bruhn to get his hands on, but in front Pascal Gregor bothered his opponent enough that he could not make proper contact with the ball, which went back into play. Important intervention by the centre-back.
After a quarter of an hour the ball was played out of the FCH box. Patrick Olsen looked up and found Matheus with a lovely forward pass. The stocky Brazilian controlled the ball in two touches with his head and cut into the box when he finally got the ball at his feet. Here he smashed at it, and his hard shot hit the outside of the post.
That was followed by a period in which Thisted managed to work themselves into some of the throw-ins and set pieces around the box that FCH would otherwise have preferred to avoid, but the North Jutlanders failed to get anything out of the effort.
After 26 minutes FCH instead struck. Frederik Bay made a good run in from the left wing and beat a man. The left-back hit it with his right foot, but the accuracy was there anyway, and the ball flew in behind Rosenørn.
1-0 FC Helsingør
When 35 minutes had been played, TK got the ball in the middle of the pitch. He looked up and saw the Thisted goalkeeper out of his goal. The midfielder took the chance from 45-50 metres without hesitation, and the stadium held its breath as the ball sailed towards the far corner. Unfortunately the magnificent shot struck the crossbar, and the Thisted keeper could breathe a sigh of relief. It deserved a better fate!
There were a few scattered signs of chances, but nothing that really caused panic at either end, and so FCH could go into the break leading 1-0 after a beautifully played first half.
The second half started a little nervously, with many balls in the air and aerial duels, which suited Thisted best. It was thus ten minutes into the half before FCH got their first shot on target. After a long ball forward, Ibrahim Samrawi finished a few metres outside the box, but his dipping shot did not deceive Rosenørn, who could tip it down under the crossbar.
Just over an hour in, somewhat bizarrely, Thisted were suddenly awarded a penalty. The referee judged that Ibrahim Samrawi committed an offence in the box and pointed to the spot, in a situation where the ball was far away. Marcus Solberg scored confidently, with no chance for Mikkel Bruhn, in what was really Thisted’s first opportunity in the match.
1-1 Thisted FC
FC Helsingør had to regroup after the goal, but in the 75th minute Matheus got away from his man and ran at goal. The striker was escorted out by two Thisted players, but managed to send a hard, low effort towards the far corner from a position just outside the box. Unfortunately for him and FCH, the shot went just wide of the post.
Three minutes later Frederik Bay played a good ball across the box. Ibrahim Samrawi won it on the other side and sent in a cross towards substitute Lukas Lodberg. At the near post it was very close to the young striker getting a touch to put the ball in the net, but Rosenørn in the Thisted goal got across to stop the effort.
FCH swarmed around the Thisted goal, but after 86 minutes the thing that must not happen happened. Tukiainen got a ball in behind on the right side and drove toward goal. The big striker cut into the box, beat a man and placed the ball beyond Mikkel Bruhn and into the far corner.
1-2 Thisted FC
FC Helsingør tried to mount a final offensive, but Thisted held firm, and time ran out for FC Helsingør. The home side lost 1-2 in a match that was very much a story of two different halves.
FCH: Bruhn, Gregor, Henriksen, Jørgensen, Bay, ”TK” Køhler, Olsen, Samrawi, Basse, Haren, Matheus
Substitutes: Lodberg, Willumsen, Holst
