Today’s match against Nykøbing looked in advance like a relegation decider for survival in the NordicBet Liga. But as the results in the other matches unfolded, Douglas with two goals in stoppage time ensured that FC Helsingør still has the chance to survive in the division, despite a draw on Falster.
The first five minutes started with a number of duels in midfield. FCH’s midfield with Patrick Olsen, Mikkel Basse and Christian ”TK” Køhler started energetically, won many balls, and tried to set Nicolas Mortensen and Matheus up.
After 11 minutes, Nykøbing got the first big chance of the match. A cross from the left flank was cleared out of the box, but dropped straight down to the feet of Joachim Wagner, who fired low and hard a couple of meters outside the box. However, the ball just narrowly missed the far post.
After 17 minutes, Nicolas Mortensen got the ball in the middle of the pitch. He threaded a perfect first-time pass between two Nykøbing defenders, and Matheus got through. He was, however, a bit out on the right side, so when he entered the box, he was forced to shoot from a tight angle. Nykøbing goalkeeper Sebastian Olsen stayed on his feet and saved the shot. Good build-up play from FC Helsingør.
After 20 minutes, FCH got a throw-in outside Nykøbing’s box. The ball was thrown in to TK, who delivered the cross. Up front Matheus brought the ball down, and bundled it on through in a big mass of players until it eventually ended up with Daniel Jørgensen, who tried to shoot high into the net, but Sebastian Olsen got his hands to it and it went over.
It was FCH that were pressing in this phase, and shortly after Mikkel Basse found Matheus with another through ball in behind. This time the Brazilian got the ball past the Nykøbing goalkeeper, but unfortunately also just past the goal.
But after 27 minutes the home side took the lead. Nykøbing got a corner, and up in front of goal Mathias Kristensen rose highest and headed the ball unstoppably into the net past Mikkel Bruhn.
1-0 Nykøbing FC
But already ten minutes later FCH drew level. Collen Warner received a long pass on the right side. The American cut inside and struck the ball with his left foot on the edge of the box. The ball hit an opponent and deceived the goalkeeper, then hit the underside of the crossbar and dropped down behind the goal line. Not the prettiest goal in Danish football history, but from the FCH bench it was glorious.
1-1 FC Helsingør
No further goals were scored in the half, so FCH could go into the break with cautious optimism after a good half.
The second half began a little nervously for both teams, and ten minutes had been played before the first chance came. It was from a corner kick for FC Helsingør, where Pascal Gregor was close to getting his head on it, but the defender was tightly marked and could not direct his header, which went over the goal.
After 69 minutes, substitute Osama Akharraz was close. Matheus marked his man energetically on the left side, outside the box, and eventually he forced his opponent to lay the ball straight back to Bay. Bay passed to Matheus first time, and the Brazilian put the ball across to Osama, who just barely could not reach the ball.
But three minutes later things went wrong for FC Helsingør again. Lars Pleidrup broke away on a counterattack down the left flank. The fast winger got around his markers and into the box. Here he struck hard and accurately, and put the ball right around Mikkel Bruhn and into the far corner.
2-1 Nykøbing FC
After 78 minutes, Frederik Bay got a big chance to equalize when Matheus carried the ball forward in the middle. He entered the box and laid it across to Bay, who was completely free on the left side of the box. The wingback shot, but a Nykøbing defender got in the way at the last moment and the shot was blocked. Big chance for FCH.
After 86 minutes, Patrick Olsen got the opportunity. Jonas Henriksen took a long throw-in that went back and forth across the box. In the end it reached Patrick, who took a touch and shot, but the ball went over the goal.
The next minute Nykøbing broke away on a counterattack. Mads Kaalund got the ball in support, and made a couple of neat moves on the edge of the box before eventually finding Pleidrup. But Pascal Gregor was alert and shut down the dangerous veteran.
But it was nevertheless Nykøbing who scored to 3-1. Emil Holten gets the ball by the byline and cuts in and shoots. Bruhn saves, but on the rebound Holten safely slots it in under the goalkeeper.
3-1 Nykøbing FC
So things looked extraordinarily difficult for FC Helsingør when stoppage time began, but Douglas had something he needed to finish. FCH pressed high and sent ball after ball forward. But it was a 70-meter run from Patrick Olsen, the midfield warrior delivered a cross in front of goal, which Douglas just had to run onto. He did so, and confidently reduced the deficit.
3-2 FC Helsingør.
The next minute it was also 3-3. Pascal Gregor lofted a long ball up the pitch, and Douglas rose highest and headed it past Sebastian Olsen
3-3 FC Helsingør, and an absolutely insane finish to the match, which was blown off shortly after.
That means that FC Helsingør, with a win in the final round over Lyngby, can overtake Hvidovre, provided that Hvidovre loses their match away to Fredericia. It will be a nail-biter of the highest order, and we hope the whole of Helsingør will come and support the boys in the final match at the old Helsingør Stadium.
FCH: Bruhn, Gregor, Henriksen, Jørgensen, Bay, ”TK” Køhler (’77 Douglas), Basse (’59 Akharraz), Warner, Olsen, Mortensen (’68 Holst) Matheus
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
