Stalemate in European first leg

FC Copenhagen battled out a 0-0 draw against Club Bruges in the first leg of UEFA Champions League qualifying. Both César Santin and Martin Vingaard went close in a game of few chances.

by Joe Short

Head coach Ariel Jacobs rewarded young striker Andreas Cornelius for his fine performance at the weekend with a second successive start in an FCK shirt. Claudemir came back into the midfield in replace of Christian Grindheim, with Sölvi Ottesen coming in for Kris Stadsgaard at the back.

Just two minutes in Bruges’ Jonathan Blondel slipped past Christian Bolaños to test Wiland from range, but the FCK keeper well matched Blondel’s effort. Four minutes later and it was Copenhagen’s turn to threaten, Lars Jacobsen delivering a swift ball behind Bruges’ defence, but the keeper collected before César Santin could reach it.

Santin came even closer moments later, turning well mid-way through the Bruges half to fire a rocket towards goal that missed the top-left corner by inches. A scrappy 10 minutes followed the opening chances, with Copenhagen dictating possession but struggling to break through Bruges’ midfield. Both sides saw looping free-kicks headed harmlessly wide as the game settled into its rhythm.

Sölvi heads just wide

As the first half ticked by, FCK’s frustration showed with a number of loose balls the only thing to show for their attempts to break through a line of nine blue shirts. Danish international Nikki Zimling pulled a 25-yard effort well wide of Wiland’s right-hand post on 38 minutes, the final chance in a slow opening half.

Copenhagen showed much more verve after the break, immediately forcing a free-kick that Ottesen headed narrowly wide. On 52 minutes Santin broke free on the left edge of the Bruges box but saw the ball nicked away as he primed to pull the trigger.

Vingaard free-kick punched clear

Ottesen was on hand at the other end of the pitch on the hour mark however, intercepting Thomas Meunier’s piercing run on the Bruges left wing. In the following phase, Copenhagen advanced up field and found the ball to Bolaños, who blazed his drilled effort wide from 30 yards. Santin then sent a low effort towards goal, but the keeper again easily gathered.

On 66 minutes Zimling’s night came to an end, appearing to injure his lower leg completely innocuously. A straight swap meant the game changed little, and the stalemate continued into the last quarter of an hour.

Substitute Martin Vingaard had a direct free-kick punched clear on 80 minutes, and as much as FCK tried to move forward they simply couldn’t force a way through or over Bruges’ solid lines. A 0-0 draw will have to do for Jacobs and his side, who head to Belgium next week for the away leg.

FC COPENHAGEN: 0 CLUB BRUGES: 0

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen (C), Ottesen, Sigurdsson, Oviedo, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kristensen, Jørgensen, Santin, Cornelius.

Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hategan (ROM)