The top clash and local derby against Hillerød ended with a fighter's victory of 2-1 for FC Helsingør, in a match where no points were awarded for beauty, but which in return gave three important points in the battle at the top.
The first ten minutes gave a slight advantage to the visitors from FC Helsingør. Hillerød tried to put pressure on the visitors, and neither team created any major chances, despite a couple of corners at either end.
After a quarter of an hour Hillerød came close to the first opportunity. Simon Sharif carried the ball up through the middle and finished from some way outside the box, but the FC defence was in place and the shot was blocked.
Three minutes later Frederik Bay beat his marker on the left side and sent a fine cross into the small area, but Hillerød goalkeeper Rasmus Lyng came out and was able to gather the ball before the FCH attack. In the ensuing move, Jeppe Kjær nearly got to a loose ball from a Hillerød player, but once again Lyng came down and claimed it.
After 24 minutes FCH got a throw-in. Ricki Olsen threw long, and TK flicked it on to Jeppe Kjær, who tried a header, but he did not quite connect, and the ball went a bit wide of the goal. It did not look as if Kjær was aware that he was actually very free in front of goal.
In the next move, Nicolas Mortensen had the ball played to him in the box. At the last moment, a Hillerød player closed down Mortensen, who did not manage to shoot. From the resulting corner, TK came close to heading it in, but Hillerød cleared on two attempts. FCH were gradually getting more into the game now.
After the half-hour mark Hillerød launched a counterattack. Two FCH players failed to shut down the build-up, and a Hillerød striker sent a sneaky long-range shot off, which Christoffer Petersen had to stretch fully to tip wide.
But two minutes later it went wrong for FCH. A cross from Sharif on the right was not cleared properly and dropped to the home side's Lasse Spaniel in the box, who calmly placed it into the left corner of the goal.
1-0 Hillerød
After 35 minutes Nikolas Mortensen smartly directed a long forward pass on to Jeppe Kjær, who, despite being pressed by two men, still managed to shoot after the long corner, but the ball flew just wide of the outside of the post.
But five minutes before the break FCH drew level. A ball was deflected by a Hillerød player and landed at Jeppe Kjær, who took it beautifully into the box and even more beautifully lifted it over an onrushing Rasmus Lyng and into the goal. The moment of the match up to then.
1-1 FC Helsingør
One minute before half-time, Jeppe Kjær played the ball out to Lucas Haren on the left wing, and it was very close to Nicolas Mortensen being played free in the box. But a Hillerød player intervened, and so FC Helsingør had to settle for 1-1 at the break, after a somewhat scrappy half.
The second half also began a little scrappily, but after just under five minutes FC Helsingør were handed a big gift. Hillerød goalkeeper Rasmus Lyng came out of his goal on a long ball towards Nicolas Mortensen and took too firm a hold of Mortensen's shirt outside the box. The referee immediately blew the whistle and pulled the red card from his pocket. Not particularly fortunate for the home side.
After 55 minutes Eli Just replaced Anders Holst and already the following minute it was close to the little dribbler creating a chance. Eli cut inside and laid it off to a teammate, but the Hillerød defence cleared. The minute after Lucas Haren put in a good cross, but in front of goal none of FCH's players managed to reach the ball.
After 62 minutes Lucas Haren again beat his man and moved into the box. Another player went in hard on him and the FCH supporters were certain they had seen a penalty when Haren went to ground. But the referee waved it away and FCH had to start over.
Hillerød had substituted one of their attacking players for the reserve goalkeeper and sat deep. FC Helsingør played well around Hillerød's defence, but it was hard to find the gaps in the tight lines.
After 70 minutes Hillerød launched a counterattack and managed to send a mix of a shot and a cross towards Christoffer Petersen, who, however, could gather the ball without much trouble.
The following minute a long forward pass found Nicolas Mortensen, who cut into the box. Hillerød's left-back came in behind him, and Mortensen hit the turf. The referee did not hesitate and pointed to the spot for a penalty. Jeppe Kjær stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, calmly placing the ball into the left side of the goal.
1-2 FC Helsingør
As the clock slowly ticked down, the game was still more marked by long balls and physical duels than polished football. Neither team came close to clear chances, although FC Helsingør were constantly looking to send Jeppe Kjær off on a counterattack. The goalscorer, however, was constantly marked and never got away. In stoppage time Hillerød pressed for an equaliser, but Andreas Holm had been brought on and did superbly to shut down the aerial balls into the box.
FC Helsingør were therefore able to run down the clock and take a very important victory from the local derby against Hillerød.
FCH: Petersen, Bay, Bonnesen, Hansen, R. Olsen, Holst (Just 55’), Norouzi, Kristensen (Christensen 80’) , Haren, Mortensen (Holm 87’) , Kjær.
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
