FC Helsingør played its second training match ahead of the season start on Swedish soil, when Helsingborgs IF hosted at Viken IK's artificial turf pitch twenty minutes north of Helsingborg.
It was on an icy and snow-swept pitch that the two teams met, and the opening phase of the match was somewhat cautious from both sides. However, it was quickly FC Helsingør who took control of the game, and FCH's play and passing generally flowed well throughout the match, despite the rather thankless pitch.
Not many minutes had been played when Douglas and a HIF player collided in HIF's penalty area. The collision could be heard all the way up in the stands, and the Brazilian appealed for a penalty. But the referee inexplicably chose to caution the big striker for diving.
Helsingør had much of the play and possession in the opening stages, but the really big chances were slow to come. There was a fine cross from Patrick Olsen that did not find anyone in front of goal, and Lucas Haren had a good attempt that skimmed the outside of the post, but after just 20 minutes of play it was instead HIF who came close. A quick 1-2 pass sent a Helsingborg player through on goal. Viktor Anker, who guarded the goal in Mikkel Bruhn's absence, saved the first shot, but on the rebound a HIF player got there first and put the ball in. But luckily for the people from Helsingør, the linesman had raised the flag for offside.
A few minutes later, a well-playing Mikkel Basse found Douglas with a good pass on the left side of the pitch. Douglas shot from distance, but his shot went wide of the far post. Shortly afterwards came two attempts from distance by Christian ”TK” Køhler, but both times Helsingborg's goalkeeper was alert and kept them out.
Instead, somewhat against the run of play and chances, it was HIF who took the lead after 34 minutes. On a quick counter pass, HIF got away down the left flank. Max Svensson carried the ball in front of goal and struck it. The shot was deflected in the box, and the ball flew in with no chance for Viktor Anker in the FCH goal. Fine counterattacking play from Helsingborg, but also one of only two big chances they had in the first half.
1-0 Helsingborgs IF
Just before we reached the 40 minute mark, Mikkel Basse and Patrick Olsen worked the ball up the right side with fine, quick combinations. In the end Olsen found Douglas on the opposite side of the pitch, but the striker's competent finish was brilliantly tipped around the far post by HIF's goalkeeper. Good chance for FCH.
Thus FCH had to go into the dressing room behind 1-0 at halftime, but with a clear feeling of having been the better team on the pitch.
The second half began with a high press from the Helsingør players. After almost five minutes it was very close to paying off. TK delivered a good cross into the box, and in the ensuing scramble Pascal Gregor first, and then Douglas, were centimetres from scoring, but both FCH players' shots were blocked at the last moment. But there should probably have been a goal for Helsingør in the situation.
But two minutes later, it was no longer enough for Helsingborg. Patrick Olsen put a good cross into the box, and up front Douglas had shaken off his marker. This time the Brazilian did not fail, and he calmly slammed the ball into the net, much to the delight of the small 15 FCH fans who had made the trip to cold Skåne.
1-1 FC Helsingør
The match then moved into a phase marked by several substitutions and more physical play, and there were again longer gaps between the really open chances. 68 minutes into the match, however, it was extremely close for Helsingborg, as a free kick into the FCH box was headed toward goal and hit the post. Helsingborg's clearly best chance in the second half.
Towards the end of the match, FC Helsingør were primarily pressing for the winning goal. But despite good chances for both Matheus, who cut inside and shot wide of goal, and substitute Nicklas Willumsen, who was half a foot away from getting to a good cross from Patrick Olsen, it remained 1-1 until the referee's final whistle.
But since the unofficial ”Öresund Cup” was at stake, a winner had to be found, and the two teams went into a brisk penalty shootout. Here FC Helsingør's Viktor Anker was flying, saving two Helsingborg penalties. When Akharraz, Holm, Patrick Olsen and Pascal Gregor all scored their attempts, FCH could take the trophy home to Helsingør again, where it has stood since the summer's ”Öresund Cup” match also ended with an FCH victory in the penalty shootout.
After a training match played at a good tempo and with a fine technical level, taking the weather and pitch conditions into account, head coach Peter Feher was also very satisfied.
-We get what we came for from the match. We tested where we are physically and pushed ourselves throughout the match to see where we stood. The form is looking good now, and we can begin working more on the details of our play. We will focus on our counterattacking play in the next few matches, and the way we need to play when we win the ball and have to switch the game.
I was also really pleased with the way the players approached the match, and that the substitutes also delivered at a fine level. Anker was good today and seized his chance, I think. It was great that he saved two penalties, even though it was not an ”official” penalty shootout. But it's only fun to have a bit of entertainment around these matches, and I think the players also find that very enjoyable. It was a really fine training match.
FC Helsingør (3-4-3): Anker, Henriksen, Holm, Gregor, Matheus, ”TK”, Basse, Haren, Douglas, Mortensen, Olsen.
Substitutes: Akharraz, Fraysse, Jørgensen, Willumsen, Erbas
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
