Friday evening FC Helsingør could finally run onto the pitch in front of spectators at Helsingør Stadium, and those who had endured the Corona obstacles could not have wished for a better match to return to. After a less-than-good performance against Fredericia last week, FC Helsingør lifted themselves considerably, and for long periods of the match were a class better than the promotion contenders from Esbjerg.
Only two minutes had been played when FC Helsingør got the first big chance. Elijah Just came up the right flank, and just before an Esbjerg defender could get there, "Eli" cheekily played a pass in centrally with the outside of his foot. In front of goal, Callum McCowatt had drifted in to the near post, and he struck first time. Unfortunately, his fine effort hit the outside of the woodwork. A great start by FCH.
It was FC Helsingør who took the initiative from the start. After seven minutes the home side won a corner. Norouzi took it, and in front of goal it was close to first Callum McCowatt and then Carl Lange getting a shot away. EFB did manage to clear the ball from danger, but Norouzi got it again and sent a good ball into the box, where Callum McCowatt rose highest. He headed hard and downward, but Kikkenborg in the EFB goal was unfortunately in the right place and could get down on the ball.
After 18 minutes Eli Just got a good ball at his feet centrally. He turned quickly and played a good through ball to Liam Jordan, who drove to the edge of the box and smashed at goal. Kikkenborg had to go all the way to the post to tip the ball wide of goal. From the resulting corner, it was close to McCowatt getting his head to it, but under heavy pressure he sent the ball over the goal.
After 25 minutes Esbjerg shot from distance. Kevin Stuhr saved, and played a ball out to Nicklas Mouritsen, who sent a long cross-field pass to Elijah Just, who was left alone with a defender. Eli won the duel and was on his way toward goal, but the referee somewhat questionably blew for a foul in the situation.
After the first half hour, in which FC Helsingør had controlled most of the game, Esbjerg worked their way more into the match and put together a couple of decent counterattacks. However, the FCH defence closed things down nicely, and both Geertsen and Nikolaj Hansen made good interventions.
Closest in the 1. half was Kevin Conboy, who from a corner suddenly stood completely free in the middle of goal, but fortunately for the home side he headed straight at Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard.
After 35 minutes FC Helsingør were then extremely close. Carl Lange laid an excellent ball up the right touchline to Liam Jordan, who had run in behind with a man on his back. From the byline Jordan delivered a sharp cross to Callum McCowatt, who hit it first time, but Kikkenborg made a fine save with a good foot stop. FCH's biggest chance so far.
The big chance gave FCH blood on the teeth and towards the break the light-blue-and-white-striped home side put the guests under heavy pressure, who for long stretches seemed at a loss in their build-up play and had plenty to do defending. But EFB could be pleased that their central defence and goalkeeper played a solid half, and after 45 minutes both teams went into the dressing room without having put the ball in the net.
The second half started a little more evenly, with play moving quickly from one end to the other. Five minutes into the half, FC Helsingør had the first big chance when substitute Oliver Kjærgaard collected a loose ball outside Esbjerg's box, cut inside and sent a dangerous effort toward goal, which Kikkenborg only with difficulty managed to stop.
And shortly after, it was Elijah Just who drove centrally and sent a dangerous shot toward goal from outside the box. Kikkenborg blocked again, but this time the ball bounced off the keeper and toward goal. Kikkenborg, however, was quickly back on his feet and got to it just before Callum McCowatt could reach it.
After 57 minutes Carl Lange had a good effort from a tight angle, but again Kikkenborg stood well. Both teams struggled to play through, though, and after 63 minutes David Boysen, Tonni Adamsen and Lucas Haren came on in an attempt to add some fresh legs in attack. They replaced Eli Just, Callum McCowatt and Liam Jordan.
Initially that gave a little more dynamism in the runs in behind, and Esbjerg dropped deeper and deeper and focused on counterattacks. FCH moved the ball around well, but had difficulty creating the open chances.
Instead, it was from a set piece that FC Helsingør finally broke the deadlock. Carl Lange fought his way to a corner in combination with Tonni Adamsen. Anders Holst took the corner and sent it to the far post, where Nicolai Geertsen had gone forward. He rose above everyone else and headed the ball in with no chance for Kikkenborg, who finally had to concede in the 74th minute.
1-0 FC Helsingør
The goal sparked Esbjerg a little, and with Silkeborg also leading against Viborg, they could suddenly see their promotion chances looking slim. Esbjerg put far more pressure on FC Helsingør than at any point in the match up to then. After 83 minutes Frederik Bay came on in place of Carl Lange in an attempt to stem the EFB pressure.
The visitors continued to press, but the FCH players fought tooth and nail to keep the narrow lead, and there were also a couple of counterattacking moves that did not lead to chances. Esbjerg pushed desperately, and in stoppage time goalkeeper Kikkenborg had gone forward for a corner. The ball actually fell to the keeper, but he sent his shot well over the goal. FC Helsingør were then able to battle it home and record a fine victory over Esbjerg.
FCH: K. Stuhr Ellegaard, N. Mouritsen, N. Geertsen, N. Hansen, A. Holst, F. Juul Christensen, D. Norouzi (’45 O. Kjærgaard), C. Lange (83’ F. Bay), L. Jordan (’63 T. Adamsen), E. Just (63’ L. Haren), C. McCowatt (63’ D. Boysen)
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
