København triumph but Porto pip them to second
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Article summary
Two goals in the first 15 minutes set up a comfortable win for København against point-less Club Brugge, but Porto's victory over Leicester means they have to settle for third in Group G.
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København capitalised on some calamitous early defending from Club Brugge to set up a 2-0 victory, though Porto's triumph over Leicester means they finish third in Group G.
The Danish side needed to win and hope Porto failed to do so, and they kept up their end of the bargain with two goals in the opening 15 minutes – a quarter of an hour to forget for Brandon Mechele.
First the Club Brugge defender put through his own net after a glancing header from the unmarked Thomas Delaney. Then, from the next corner seven minutes later, Mechele lost track of Mathias Jørgensen, who headed in. There was no way back against an FCK team who have now kept five successive clean sheets.
Key player: Thomas Delaney
Delaney has been a fine servant to København since making his debut in 2009 as a willowy 18-year-old. He demonstrated his full repertoire in Belgium, blending hard running and tough tackling with a keen eye for a pass and ability to break down defences. This, though, was his penultimate game for the club ahead of his winter move to Werder Bremen. Coach Ståle Solbakken has a big void to fill in midfield.
Beaten, black and blues
Club Brugge's group campaign laid bare a lack of quality and, having conceded the first goal so often when on top, fortitude also. It will take some effort to rebuild their belief and that won't come in the Belgian Cup, where they have been knocked out. So all eyes will be on the league: can they bounce back and seal a return to the UEFA Champions League? Sunday's trip to Anderlecht may answer that.
Reporters' views
Berend Scholten, Club Brugge (@UEFAcomBerendS)
This followed a well-worn formula for Club Brugge. They made the early running, created opportunities ... only for the opposition to go up the other end and convert their first chance. With so many players rested this was always going to be a challenge, but this has been an autumn to forget.
Ian Holyman, København (@UEFAcomIanH)
København are having a memorable season. They are running away with the Danish championship and, 32 games in, only one team have managed to beat them: Leicester. In that context, is this a missed opportunity? Their tally of nine points is higher than any other side managed in finishing third, and more than Benfica and Manchester City mustered in coming second. That last-gasp Kasper Schmeichel save from Andreas Cornelius on matchday four was decisive.
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