København trample out CFR fire

FC København live to fight another day in UEFA Europa League Group K, having avenged defeat by CFR 1907 Cluj with an unflashy but effective display in Denmark.

Sparta chance
CFR looked a shadow of the side that ran Ståle Solbakken's men into the ground on Matchday 1, when they won 2-0 in Romania, offering little response to goals from Martin Vingaard and Dame N'Doye towards the end of the first half. They now have no chance of reaching the last 32, but a win or a draw at AC Sparta Praha on Matchday 6 would extend København's European campaign into the new year.

Vingaard opener
Captains of industry, CFR were energetic on the break at the Parken Stadium, but did not carve out chances, with Zdeněk Pospěch serving notice of the hosts superior attacking threat as he angled a shot off the outside of the post midway through the first half. Nuno Claro was then beaten on 37 minutes, William Kvist's cross from the right allowing Vingaard to take a touch before steering a low shot home from inside the box.

Low-flying kick
In their first European game under Italian coach Andrea Mandorlini, CFR had barely mustered a response when they went 2-0 down, with N'Doye's low-flying free-kick bouncing just in front of Nuno Claro and skidding in. The visitors hounded København for every ball thereafter, but their only legitimate chance fell to Sebastián Dubarbier, who forced Johan Wiland to save with his legs four minutes from time.