FC Helsingør lost narrowly 1-2 to Elfsborg in this summer’s first friendly match, after a solid performance against the team from Sweden’s top division. FCH started with new signing Sebastian Elvang, former U-19 player Jonathan Eriksen, who is moving into the first-team squad this summer, as well as trialist Filip Djukic from FCK’s U-19 team in goal.
It had only been four minutes in the dazzling sunshine when Patrick Olsen cleverly found returning Pierre Larsen with a lob over the defence, but the attacker hit the post with his measured shot. The ball bounced back to Douglas, but the Brazilian overhit the ball, which went wide of the far post. Big chance.
In the 13th minute Elfsborg won a free kick on the right side, which was sent in front of goal, but fortunately the striker at the near post did not reach the ball, which went harmlessly past the post.
After 28 cautious minutes from both sides, Elfsborg’s Issam Djebali burst away down the right flank and delivered a sharp cross in front. Viktor Prodell got there and finished decisively, but Filip Djukic stopped the shot and handled the otherwise powerful effort well. Elfsborg’s biggest chance in the first half hour.
After just over 40 minutes Douglas won a free kick on the edge of the box. Sebastian Elvang and TK went for the ball, and it looked like a shot from Elvang’s left foot. But instead he moved away from the ball and dragged a man with him, and TK hit hard and low, but Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard got down right by the post and made a fine save.
At half-time FC Helsingør made three changes, as Adnan, Daniel and Malte replaced Pierre, Holm and Bay, and whether that was what created a bit of uncertainty we cannot say, but not even a minute had been played when Elfsborg’s Per Frick somewhat casually got free in the box and decisively fired the ball in.
0-1 Elfsborg IF
This was followed by a long period of rather cautious play from both teams, and FCH made further changes a couple of times, as Matheus replaced Sebastian Elvang and Martin Fisch came on instead of Frederik Bay. After an hour of play Matheus got free for a shot on the edge of the box, but his powerful effort went just over the crossbar. FCH’s biggest chance so far in the half.
After 66 minutes FCH finally got on the scoreboard. Matheus won a free kick on the left side of the pitch. TK sent a ball into the box, where it was flicked on, and Daniel Jørgensen rose highest and headed the ball into a soft arc. Fine set piece and fine goal.
1-1 FC Helsingør
After 72 minutes trialist Filip Djukic was taken off after a fine performance and replaced by Oliver Stenderup in goal. The young goalkeeper from FCH’s U19 team went on something of a walkabout ten minutes later, when he came out of his box and missed his tackle. The defence covered well in the box behind him, but Elfsborg still got the shot away, and Patrick Olsen had to clear off the line. Big chance for the Swedes.
In the 85th minute it was then FCH who got a big chance. They had changed the tactics so that a couple of the big centre-backs joined the attack, and after yet another TK free kick from the left side Douglas was centimetres away from heading the ball in. The ball went past, and it later turned out that the big striker had also just managed to creep into an offside position.
In the 88th minute goalkeeper and defence got in each other’s way in the FCH box after an Elfsborg counterattack, and Jesper Karlsson suddenly stood free in the area. He could safely place the ball in and put the Swedes ahead. A slightly unnecessary goal to concede at the end, and it slightly spoiled the overall impression of an otherwise good match from the FCH side.
1-2 Elfsborg.
No further goals were scored, and a couple of minutes later the excellent referee Benjamin Willaume-Jantzen blew the final whistle.
Head coach Christian Lønstrup was nevertheless reasonably satisfied with the match, despite the defeat.
– It was a solid match, where we got to see some of the new guys. Sebastian (Elvang) was quite exciting to watch. Pierre was back and looked good. We played a good first half, where we had the wind at our backs and looked good, and were in good control. In the second half we make quite a few substitutions and become a little unbalanced. At the end of the second half we play with a different tactic and have a few problems in terms of length on the pitch and lose a lot in the aerial duels. But all in all a decent first friendly out of four, where we get to see some different elements of play and quite a few new players, so that was good.
FCH: Djukic, Bay, Holm, Gregor, Eriksen, ”TK” Köhler, Olsen, Basse, P. Larsen, Elvang, Douglas
Substitutes: Johannsen, Mohammad, Jørgensen, Fisch, Matheus, Stenderup
Referee Benjamin Willaume-Jantzen
