FC Helsingør took a single point home from Herfølge, as they faced the league leaders HB Køge at Capelli Sport Park on Sunday. HB Køge went ahead with two goals in the first half, but FCH fought back and scored twice in the closing stages of the match, and could therefore record their first point under Peter Feher.
The match started with a slight edge for the home side, and less than four minutes had been played when the home team went ahead. HB Køge won a free kick about 10 meters outside the box. The ball was played into the area, where the giant Jean-Claude Bozga flicked it on and found former FCH player Martin Koch, who had timed his run perfectly. Koch got his head to Bozga’s pass and headed the ball into the far corner, with no chance for Mikkel Bruhn.
1-0 HB Køge
FC Helsingør tried to press HB Køge a little higher up the pitch, but that opened things up for the home side at the back, where Johansson came close on a couple of occasions, including from a cross after 12 minutes, where he rose highest in an aerial duel. But the ball went just wide of goal on what was otherwise a big chance.
After 19 minutes it went wrong again for FC Helsingør. Pascal Gregor carried the ball forward in his own half, but Martin Koch was alert to the ball and cut in front of Gregor. The big striker got a foot to the ball, and then there was a clear run at goal. One-on-one with Bruhn, NordicBet Liga’s top scorer did not miss, and confidently put the ball in the net.
2-0 HB Køge
The home side were on the front foot, and Helsingør found it difficult to create chances. We had to wait until the 38th minute before FCH’s first big chance arrived. Nicolas Mortensen got the ball at his feet just outside the box. He spun strongly and hammered a shot at goal. Andreas Hansen in the HB Køge goal dived and got a fingertip to the shot, tipping it onto the post and out. From the resulting corner, Nicolas Mortensen again got a shot away as he rose highest in the box and sent the ball toward the far corner. But once again Andreas Hansen came out and saved it, this time on the left side of the goal. Two big chances for Mortensen, and two really good saves by HB Køge’s goalkeeper.
Up until half-time neither side were aggressive enough to force further chances, and FC Helsingør could therefore go into the break behind 0-2.
It was the home side who came best out of the dressing room, and HB Køge had two good opportunities in the first five minutes with two long-range efforts. In particular Christian Overby’s shot, which went just over the crossbar, was close.
FC Helsingør tried to get back into the game, mainly with crosses from Jonas Henriksen and Carl Lange from the right flank, but they were repelled by Køge’s tall defenders. Instead, it was with a long-range shot that FC Helsingør finally pulled one back shortly after the hour mark. Patrick Olsen got the ball on the left side of the box and cut in toward the middle. He looked up, but found no passing options in front of him, and instead smashed a hard, low shot at goal. It went past friend and foe alike and nestled into the far corner. Patrick Olsen’s first goal in an FCH shirt, and a fine one at that.
2-1 FC Helsingør
After 72 minutes it was close to the home side extending their lead. A cross was on its way to Martin Koch, who was in the middle of the box, but Mikkel Bruhn came out of his goal and punched the ball away just in front of the striker. The ball went straight to HB Køge’s 10 player Martin Jensen, who shot first time, but forgot to “look at his shoelaces,” and so he shot over from what was otherwise a completely free position. Huge chance for HB Køge.
Douglas was brought on immediately afterwards, and that clearly gave a bit more weight to the attack. FCH were on top for most of the spell. After 82 minutes, the high press finally paid off. Nicolas Mortensen was played into his feet in the box and turned. An HB Køge player tried to tackle the ball and instead caught Mortensen over the leg from behind. The referee blew immediately and pointed to the spot. Penalty!
Douglas stepped up. He waited calmly for the goalkeeper to dive right and then gently placed the ball inside the post on the left side. A composed finish from the returning Brazilian.
2-2 FC Helsingør
After that, the home side were clearly rattled, and it was FC Helsingør who were pushing for the win. Ball after ball was pumped into the HB Køge box, and the HB Køge players had plenty to do in defending. The match went all the way into stoppage time before FCH really came close. A corner was headed on into the box, and on the right side of the area Douglas got to the ball, but his well-struck shot hit the crossbar. Centimeters from an FC Helsingør lead that probably would have decided the match. But neither side came any closer, and then the referee blew the final whistle, allowing FCH to record a big and hard-fought point against the league leaders.
Helsingør: Bruhn, Bay, Holm, Gregor, Henriksen, ”TK” Kôhler, Olsen, Lange, Holst (81’ Roepstorff), Matheus (72’ Douglas), Mortensen (88’ Basse)
Referee: Patrick Rasmussen
