It ended with a 3-2 win for FC Copenhagen, as FC Helsingør played their final training match before the season opener on Monday morning. But for large parts of the match it was very even in the snowstorm, and FCH equalized twice before Copenhagen finally put their foot down.
FC Copenhagen fielded a mixed team of U19 players and reserves from the Superliga squad, which included players such as Bryan Oviedo, Viktor Nelsson, Nikolaj Thomsen, Pep Biel and Kamil Wilczek. And it was also the home side that got off to the best start. After just over ten minutes, the big U19 striker Rasmus Højlund got through, and calmly placed the ball past Kevin Stuhr in the FCH goal with a shot that found the opposite side of the goal.
1-0 FC Copenhagen
After the goal, FC Helsingør came better into the match, and FCK had their work cut out keeping the fast FCH players from creating chances for long periods of the first half. In particular, Oliver Kjærgaard and Callum McCowatt up front caused FCK's defense problems. Tonni Adamsen had been given a place on the left wing in today's match, and he also several times showed off his technical skills and created fine crosses or half-chances. And after 40 minutes of play, it was Adamsen who got on the scoresheet for FCH. Oliver Kjærgaard played Carl Lange free on the right side, and Lange cut inside centrally in front of the box and struck the ball. Sten Grytebust in the FCK goal pulled off an excellent save, but only managed to punch the ball onto the crossbar. The ball came back into play, and in front of goal Adamsen was ready and could put the ball in the net with a fine, controlled shot.
1-1 FC Helsingør
The rest of the half passed without goals, and FC Helsingør could go into the break with a good feeling after having matched FCK for most of the half.
From the start of the second half, FCK tried to press the visitors from Helsingør a little higher up the pitch, but FCH defended well, and the usually hard-working midfield with Norouzi and Frederik Juul got in the way of a great deal with their tireless pressing game.
But FC Copenhagen still went ahead after just over 55 minutes. It was again Højlund who struck. This time he cut in from the wing, and with two good touches he worked himself into shooting position and fired a hard shot under Kevin Stuhr on the slick snowy pitch.
2-1 FC Copenhagen
After 60 minutes, FC Helsingør changed almost the entire team, except for Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard and Lucas Haren, who had replaced Tonni Adamsen at halftime. It was that same Haren who equalized for FC Helsingør when, after 65 minutes of play, he capitalized on weak defensive play from FC Copenhagen, which left a large gap for a shot from just outside the center of goal. Haren let fly with a thunderous strike toward the left post, and the ball smashed off the post, bounced across to the other post and into the goal. Great shot by Lucas Haren.
2-2 FC Helsingør.
However, the many substitutions had broken FCH's rhythm, and FC Copenhagen were able to push the pressure higher up the pitch as the half wore on. FC Helsingør's defense often ended up clearing the ball to opposition players, and the Helsingør side had difficulty getting out of their own half. So it was not exactly undeserved when FCK's 16-year-old fighting talent Orri Oskarsson after 73 minutes of play could put the ball in the net, after a sequence in which FCK, with many lightning-fast passes, managed to play FCH's defense thin. In the end, Oskarsson ended up in a free position in front of goal and placed the ball by the right post, beyond Kevin Stuhr's reach.
3-2 FC Copenhagen
Towards the end of the match, FC Helsingør again managed to push the play a bit further forward, and among others Alexander Stjernegaard and Liam Jordan showed several good moments in the build-up play. No further goals were scored, but FC Helsingør could leave the pitch with a good feeling after once again matching one of the Superliga's stronger squads for large parts of the match.
On Friday, the season's first match in 1 Division awaits, where Kolding are the away team. It is at 18.00, and the match can be watched on Viaplay.dk.
FCH (first hour): K. Stuhr Ellegaard, N. Mouritsen, N. Hansen, N. Geertsen, A. Holst, T. Adamsen (45′ L. Haren), D. Norouzi, F. Juul Christensen, C. Lange, O. Kjærgaard, C. McCowatt.
FCH (60′-90′): K. Stuhr Ellegaard, F: Bay, HC Bonnesen, B. Onkony, V. Holse, W. Arnesen, M. Christensen, A. Stjernegaard, L. Haren, L. Jordan, D. Boysen
