The first match, against FC Obolon, was played from 11-13 local time, and consisted primarily of first-team players, minus Mikkel Bruhn and Imbrahim Samrawi, both of whom were ruled out due to injuries.
The following players were selected:
Viktor Anker (GK)
Oliver Stenderup (GK)
Daniel Jørgensen
Andreas Holm
Pascal Gregor
Frederik Bay
Hans Christian “Kritte” Bonnesen (U19)
Mads Bach (U19)
Christian “TK” Köhler
Patrick Olsen
Carl Lange
Lucas Haren
Douglas
Nicolas Mortensen
A physically intense and defensively focused match was played without the biggest chances for either side, although both Carl Lange and Douglas each had one big chance. FC Obolon's goalkeeper, however, had a fine game and saved both attempts. FC Helsingør played a disciplined match, and everyone worked hard for the cause. The midfield and defense stood well on the pitch, and there was very little that Obolon could play their way into. A free kick on the edge of the box just before the end of the second half was the closest they came, but the ball went over the goal.
Today's second match was against FC Sioni from Georgia. Although the former champion team has not quite reached the heights of the past in recent seasons, it is still a very competent football team from a competitive league, and it turned out to be a somewhat more action-packed match.
Since many from the 'normal' FCH first team had played in the early match, a number of players from the U19 team were selected for the squad, which had its last day in Turkey on Saturday.
The squad looked like this:
Stenderup (GK)
Anker(GK)
Hans Christian “Kritte” Bonnesen
Jonas Henriksen
Mads Bach
Alexander Bouaziz
Tobias Christiansen
Tobias Madvig
Mikkel Basse
Oliver Basse
Emil Erbas
Lucas Lodberg
Matheus Leiria
Nicolas Willumsen
The match against Sioni was much more characterized by transitions and attacking football than the match against Obolon had been, and the Georgians repeatedly showed high quality in their attacking play and that they had several players with plenty of speed. It had not been played more than a quarter of an hour before they went up 1-0 after a strong and quickly executed counterattack. But Nicolas Willumsen, who played a strong game as center forward, equalized shortly after with an opportunistic goal, where he himself won a poor back pass from a Sioni defender and put the ball in without much fuss
Shortly after, however, Sioni went up 2-1, as a quickly executed counter led to a cross from the left, which a Sioni attacker beautifully volleyed into the goal in front of goal. The faster Georgians caused FCH's defense quite a few problems, and goalkeeper Oliver Stenderup had to be very alert to keep up. The young goalkeeper made several good saves in both halves.
Some way into the second half, FCH moved the ball forward, and after a couple of dribbles Matheus was brought down in Sioni's box, and the referee correctly blew for the penalty. Matheus took the ball himself and placed it precisely and low all the way by one post, so the goalkeeper could not get his gloves to it, despite going the right way. The Brazilian could clench his fist and FCH were level at 2-2.
Shortly after, however, Sioni went up 3-2, as a free kick was played long to a Sioni player who got in front of his markers and with a clever touch put the ball away. It looked as if the match was decided. But deep into stoppage time, as the referee had begun to glance at his watch, Hans Christian “Kritte” Bonnesen was brought down in the box after a corner. The referee once again blew for a completely correct penalty, and Matheus was able to equalize Sioni's lead with the last kick of the match. He struck hard and accurately again, the goalkeeper again went the right way, but he could not keep the shot out, and FCH could note a very fine draw against a strong Eastern European side.
