All 1067 spectators were present and provided a fine backdrop as FC Helsingør on Friday evening continued their good form at Helsingør Stadion with a safe 4-0 win over the promoted side against FA2000.
We had not gone more than two minutes into the match before Anders Holst sent a fine diagonal ball twenty meters across to Jeppe Kjær. He shook off his marker and laid the ball off to Frederik Bay, who played a good cross diagonally back, but in front of goal Nicolas Mortensen could not rise higher than his opponent and from the ensuing corner there was also no result. But FCH started with a high press from the outset.
After eight minutes, FCH got reward for the high press. FA2000 committed a foul just above the halfway line. Daniel Nourouzi was quick and took the free kick before FA2000 realized what had happened. Jeppe Kjær got the ball right at his feet and drove into the box, where he was brought down by FA2000's goalkeeper. The referee whistled without hesitation for a penalty. Anders Holst took the kick and safely placed it inside the right post.
1-0 FC Helsingør
FA2000 were not put off by FC Helsingør's early lead and a few minutes later came close to an excellent chance from a cross into the six-yard box, but Christoffer Petersen came up between friend and foe and managed to gather the ball despite heavy pressure. Fine intervention by the FCH goalkeeper.
With 16 minutes on the clock, however, FC Helsingør extended the lead. Jonas Henriksen took a long throw-in from the right side, and the ball was flicked on in front. Thomas “TK” Kristensen reacted quickly and swung his right foot. The ball curled beautifully and flew in high at the left corner of the goal.
2-0 FC Helsingør
And four minutes later it went completely wrong for FA2000. Jonas Henriksen made a run down the right side, and from the touchline he crossed toward the back post. The ball arced over both goalkeeper, defense and striker, and went into the net right by the post.
3-0 FC Helsingør
FC Helsingør continued the high press toward the break, and Jeppe Kjær, Nicolas Mortensen and Anders Holst constantly swarmed around FA2000's box. But the visitors managed to close things down a little better in this phase, despite the massive pressure. Otherwise the biggest event was when Jeppe Kjær complained his way into a yellow card after a free kick may well have been awarded the wrong way.
But just before the halftime whistle Jeppe Kjær managed to break through. He got a sharp ball to his feet on a through pass, and under heavy pressure he actually fell at the edge of the box. But he was back on his feet before the defenders could get there, and he drove into the box with the ball at his feet. There he dribbled past first one defender and then the goalkeeper. But instead of shooting himself, he calmly played the ball across the box to a completely free Nicolas Mortensen, who tapped in one of the easiest goals of his career.
One of the season's by far best goals from FCH, and there have otherwise been a few to choose from.
4-0 FC Helsingør
So FC Helsingør could go into the break with a very comfortable 4-0 lead on the scoreboard.
Only two minutes of the second half had been played when FCH had their first big chance. A cross was flicked on in front of goal, and after a couple of attempts Nicolas Mortensen got a header that was headed down right by the post, but FA 2000's goalkeeper produced a superb foot save from the hat and prevented Mortensen from getting on the scoresheet.
Shortly after, Anders Holst had two huge chances to get on the scoresheet. First he hit the post when Jeppe Kjær's header after a cross was cleared into Holst's feet, and he shot from the edge of the box. Then he got the chance when the referee once again whistled for a penalty to FCH. A FA2000 player had handled the ball in his own box, and Anders Holst stepped up to take it. But this time the goalkeeper read him and saved the shot.
That was Anders Holst's last two actions in the match, as he and Frederik Bay were replaced after 58 minutes by the two New Zealanders Eli Just and Dalton Wilkins.
A few minutes later Dalton was close to recording an assist, as he delivered a superb cross to Nicolas Mortensen in the middle of goal. Mortensen got in front of his marker and headed cheekily toward the far corner, but the ball went just wide of the outside of the post. A very nice move and finish by the two.
FC Helsingør slowed the pace after the first hour of play, and for a period were content to move the ball around among themselves and look for a possible counterattack that might present itself. Head coach Eskesen was not entirely pleased with that, and he was out by the touchline shouting at his players that they needed to put more energy into the game.
The FCH players then put a little more pressure on the FA2000 box and Nicolas Mortensen came close twice around the 70th minute, when he first had a free kick from just outside the box saved right by the post, and then saw a fine finish right by the post blocked by FA 2000's goalkeeper with a brilliant save. He was a great man for his team in today's match.
The energy dipped a little again, and we had to reach the 83th minute before the next big chance arose. Substitute Carl Lange dribbled past a man and accelerated toward the box. He was brought down by an opponent before he got there, and the referee judged it as a free kick and a yellow card. Nicolas Mortensen stepped up to take it again, and this time it was too far out for the goalkeeper, but unfortunately also a little too far out to go in. Mortensen's fine free kick hit the post.
A few minutes later Lucas Haren suddenly had plenty of space just outside the FA2000 box, and he immediately cut inside and struck toward the far corner. A FA2000 defender blocked the shot at the last moment, and on the ensuing rebound it was close to Jeppe Kjær getting his head to it, but he too was blocked at the last moment.
In stoppage time Dalton Wilkins had a shot at goal that went a meter or so over, and that was the last major chance of the match, which was blown off shortly after. A safe win after a really good first half, and a second half that was a little less exciting.
FCH: Petersen, Bay (58’ Wilkins) Hansen, Holm, Henriksen, Holst (58’ Just), “TK” Kristensen (77’ Lange), Norouzi, Mortensen, Kjær
