FC Helsingør took a fine victory, earned through good play and hard work, against the Superliga relegated side AC Horsens. Callum McCowatt’s lone goal in the second half was enough for a third straight win in as many matches.
Slight edge to Horsens in the first half
However, it was the home side from Horsens who started the match best. “The Yellows” put physical pressure on the FC Helsingør players and swarmed around the FCH box in the first five minutes. After seven minutes of play, it was close when a corner went to the far post, but Kevin Stuhr and Philip Rejnhold managed to clear the danger before Casper Tengstedt could head the ball in.
Two minutes later FC Helsingør had their first big chance. Tonni Adamsen beat his man on the right side and laid the ball in to Liam Jordan, who played a quick 1-2 with Adamsen. From the byline Adamsen drove it low into the six-yard box, but Marcus Bobjerg in the Horsens goal came down to Liam Jordan’s feet just before the South African could get a touch.
After 12 minutes, Horsens had a huge chance to take the lead. A good cross found Casper Tengstedt at the far post, where the Horsens striker was completely free. Tengstedt, however, completely mistimed his header and sent the ball wide.
Just over a quarter of an hour in, FCH won a corner. Up front, Tonni Adamsen rose highest and headed toward the far corner, but unfortunately also wide of the goal. Good chance for Adamsen. FC Helsingør were now getting more into the game and worked their way to a couple more corners, though none led to much.
The next ten minutes were more chaotic, with midfield duels and fouls from both teams, and signs of a couple of good counters for Tonni Adamsen, who looked lively from the start. Horsens defended well, however, and neither team created clear chances.
After 33 minutes, FCH came close to getting into trouble. Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard tried to punch a cross out of the box, but put it straight to Jonas Gemmer’s feet, and he struck the ball first time. Gemmer sent it past Kevin Stuhr, but on the line captain Nikolaj Hansen had read the situation and cleared the ball at the very last moment. A huge intervention from Hansen, who prevented a certain goal.
Heading toward halftime, FC Helsingør had much of the play, but Horsens defended wisely, and the long passes meant to open their defense were not coming off for FC Helsingør. On that basis it was fine for the visitors from Helsingør to go into the dressing room with 0-0 on the scoreboard.
FC Helsingør controlled the second half
The second half began with a fine FCH press, and the Helsingør side won the ball and moved it well through the middle, while Horsens made quite a few mistakes in their passing game. We had to wait until the 54th minute for a big chance to arrive. FCH won a free kick five meters outside the Horsens box, and Mouritsen deceived the Horsens wall with a low pass in behind to Liam Jordan, who broke through alone with Bobjerg. Mouritsen’s pass had just enough on it, and Bobjerg could get down to Jordan’s feet and claim the ball. A cheeky detail from FCH on the set piece.
After an hour of play, Horsens had their first big chance in the second half. Santos got past Rejnhold on the right side and laid a low ball back into the box. A Horsens player got there first and fired at goal, but Oliver Kjærgaard got down for a sliding block and sent the ball over the goal. A big chance for the home side.
But after 63 minutes, FC Helsingør got the reward for their high press. A cross from Mouritsen went all the way through the box to Rejnhold, who found substitute Eli Just with a pass backward. Just shot at goal, but his shot was blocked and fell to Frederik Juul. Juul also fired a shot toward goal, where Bobjerg could only half-save it, and the ball dropped to Callum McCowatt, who stretched out a long toe to the loose ball and poked it into the net. McCowatt had only been on the pitch for just under four minutes.
0-1 FC Helsingør
FC Helsingør followed up with a good spell, during which they swarmed around the Horsens goal, but Horsens got the next big chance when a rebound in the box fell to a Horsens player, who could shoot from the edge of the box toward the far corner. Kevin Stuhr, however, got across and was able to claim the ball.
Norouzi and the young Alexander Lyng were also brought on, and Horsens tried to disrupt FCH’s buildup and take advantage of any confusion the substitutions might create, but FC Helsingør played intelligently and Daniel Norouzi repeatedly showed his superb ability to sniff out passes from the opposition and break up their buildup.
Horsens tried time and again to disrupt FCH’s passing game, but every time a red-shirted FCH player got onto the toes of the ball carrier. At the same time, time was slowly but surely running out for the home side. FC Helsingør’s players fought heroically for every ball in this phase of the match, and the visitors drew many free kicks from the frustrated Horsens players.
In the 86th minute it was terrifyingly close to Alexander Lyng extending the lead. Substitute Sebastian Czajkowski won a duel in midfield against his marker and played Eli Just through in behind. Eli found Alexander Lyng with another excellent through ball, but with a defender on his back Lyng could not quite control his finish and sent the ball just over the goal. Strong build-up play by Just, Czajkowski and Lyng.
Horsens never really managed to create the chance, and so FC Helsingør could note their third win in as many attempts with a disciplined performance up to the final whistle.
The next match is also against one of the Jutland teams in the group, when we host Vendsyssel at home on Friday. Kickoff is at 19.00
FCH: K. Stuhr Ellegaard, N. Mouritsen, N. Hansen, K. Enghardt, P. Rejnhold, O. Kjærgaard (’70 A. Lyng), F. Juul Christensen, T. Adamsen (’86 S. Czajkowski), L. Jordan (’60 D. Norouzi), F. Bay (’45 E. Just), P. Buch Christiansen (’60 C. McCowatt)
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
