FC Helsingør got off to a start in 2. Division with an away match against Skovshoved IF. It went as we had hoped, as we could head back north with a 1-0 victory in the bag, which could easily have been a couple of goals bigger.
Four new players made their debut in FCH's starting-11, as Thomas ”TK” Kristensen, Nikolaj Hansen, Daniel Norouzi and Christoffer Petersen all started. ”TK” and Hansen formed the central defensive partnership in front of Christoffer Petersen, and Nourouzi started in midfield alongside Anders Holst.
The match started as expected with massive pressure from FCH. In particular, Matheus and Nicolas Mortensen caused the Skovshoved players trouble at times, but they managed to close down in front of goal before dribbles and through balls became really dangerous.
Skovshoved did, however, come a little better into the game after the first ten minutes, and came close to their first attempt from a fine cross from the wing that led to a header, which, however, went well over the goal.
The shot at goal woke the FCH players up a bit, and they managed better to keep possession and make Skovshoved run after the ball. Lucas Haren got away down his right flank on several occasions, and tried a couple of quality crosses into Douglas and Mortensen, who were often marked tightly inside the box for much of the match.
After 18 minutes, Anders Holst went down in a fierce duel in midfield. The referee allowed play to continue for Skovshoved, and former FCH player Sebastian Elvang got the ball at the edge of the area, where he struck at the triangle where the post and crossbar meet. The ball, however, went just a little over a meter wide, but it was a fine attempt.
After 22 minutes, FCH got their first big chance. Following a dead-ball situation, the ball dropped to Lucas Haren's feet, and he struck first time. His shot was blocked, but Nicolas Mortensen followed up, but right on the goal line a Skovshoved player got a saving foot to it. The ball flew out into the box, where Anders Holst lashed at it at hip height, but he could not keep the shot down, and the ball went over the crossbar.
Four minutes later it was Douglas's turn to have a shot saved off the line. Daniel Norouzi took the corner, and the big Brazilian was ready at the near post, but again Skovshoved got a saving foot in. It was burning in the Skovshoved penalty area during this spell.
When the clock hit the half hour, a long ball was played forward to Nicolas Mortensen, who brought it down beautifully and laid it elegantly back to Norouzi, who hit a hard first-time shot. Skovshoved's goalkeeper had to stretch as far as he could to tip the ball out of the top right corner. Good shot and good save.
A minute later Skovshoved won the ball in midfield and went on the counterattack. But FCH's players made exemplary recovery runs, and instead of a three-on-two situation, enough players got back to force Skovshoved to shoot a couple of meters outside the box, and the ball flew over the goal.
After 35 minutes, Lucas Haren burst away again on the right flank and delivered a perfect cross to Nicolas Mortensen, who headed toward goal as you should: hard and downward. But once again the Skovshoved keeper produced a brilliant save that looked more like something from a handball match, and Mortensen had to see his fine attempt kept out. A really good attacking move by the Helsingør side.
Four minutes later Anders Holst won the ball in midfield. He took a couple of neat touches at full speed and played a perfect diagonal ball to Frederik Bay, who had pushed forward. The left back finished toward the far corner, but the ball went just past the outside of the post. A big chance.
Right before the break, Daniel Norouzi won the ball in midfield and played Matheus in behind. The lively Brazilian beat a couple of men and played it back to Nourouzi, who had pushed forward. The midfield debutant sent in a good cross toward Douglas, who, with a man on his back, headed toward goal, but again the ball went just wide.
Nothing more happened in the first half, and so FCH had to go into the dressing room without having got on the scoresheet, but after a half in which they had been clearly the better side and had had a huge edge in chances and possession.
Already in the first minute of the second half, FCH were knocking again. Thomas Kristensen found Lucas Haren with a long, precise pass, and the right winger took it cleverly with the outside of his foot. At the byline he played a fine cross in front of goal, where a huge pack of players battled for the ball, which flew over the goal once more. But a good start to the half from FC Helsingør.
Five minutes later Douglas muscled past two Skovshoved players at the edge of the box and laid it off to Nicolas Mortensen, who shot first time, but unfortunately for FCH the ball went into the side netting from the tight angle.
FC Helsingør kept applying heavier and heavier pressure and moved the ball around well. Shortly after Nicolas Mortensen's big chance, it was Lucas Haren who got into the Skovshoved box. He dribbled past a man and tried to place it into the far corner, but once again Skovshoved's goalkeeper got down onto the ball and claimed it. But it was FC Helsingør who really turned up the heat now.
After 56 minutes, another player made his debut, as young Frederik Christensen, who has joined from FC Nordsjælland this summer, replaced Anders Holst in central midfield, just before we reached the hour mark.
It would prove to be a good idea. It was Frederik Christensen's intense pressing game that on a couple of occasions allowed FCH to maintain pressure on Skovshoved's left side. The ball eventually ended up with Daniel Norouzi, who delivered a tremendous cross to the far post, where Nicolas Mortensen rose and headed the ball in right by the woodwork. This time Skovshoved's goalkeeper could not reach the ball, and FCH's players could finally raise their arms in relief after 62 minutes of play.
0-1 FC Helsingør
The next ten minutes were mostly midfield play. FCH had dropped a little deeper on the pitch, and the two new central defenders, ”TK” and Nikolaj Hansen, shut down virtually all attempts at chances from Skovshoved.
After 77 minutes there was a “re”-debut for an old acquaintance, as Ricki Olsen, to the great delight of the traveling fans, was substituted on for the first minutes after his return from HB Køge. He replaced Lucas Haren, who could take a seat on the bench for a well-deserved rest after a huge work rate and a good match.
There was a little more time between the open chances as the match entered its final minutes. After 82 minutes, Matheus made a fine dribble run and played the ball out to Frederik Bay on the left side, who got the cross in. But inside the box the FCH players had not come up, and Skovshoved's goalkeeper could collect the ball safely.
Five minutes from time Skovshoved got a free kick on the right side and sent men and muscle forward. But Douglas got in front of his man inside the box and could let the ball go harmlessly over the byline. Skovshoved tried to apply pressure in the last minutes and created a single long-range shot that went some way wide, as well as a corner that ended with a free kick to Thomas Kristensen in FCH's box, after he was outmuscled by a Skovshoved player.
In the 88th minute, another player made his official debut, as Emil Erbas replaced Nicolas Mortensen. Skovshoved finally tried to put some long balls forward, but FCH repelled all attempts, and then the approximately 300 FC Helsingør fans in attendance could note a perfect start to life in 2. Division, with three points, a striker's goal, and a clean sheet for debutant Christoffer Petersen in goal.
The next task already awaits on Tuesday, where we meet AB in the cup competition. It will be at Gladsaxe Stadium at 18.15
FCH: Petersen, Bay, Kristensen, Hansen, Henriksen, Matheus, Norouzi, Holst (’59 Christensen), Haren (’77 R. Olsen), Mortensen (’88 Erbas), Douglas
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
