Club Brugge and København save best until last
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Article summary
Club Brugge KV 1-1 FC København
Daniel Amartey put FCK ahead with just a minute remaining, but substitute Víctor Vázquez replied to earn the Belgian side a Group B point.
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• FCK's Daniel Amartey scores brilliant first European goal
•Víctor Vázquez salvages draw for Club Brugge
• Club Brugge up to five points; København a point behind them
• Michel Preud'homme's side concede first goal in Group B
• Next games: København v Club Brugge (6 November)
Club Brugge KV and FC København saved their best until the end as two late goals gave them a point each in UEFA Europa League Group B.
Daniel Amartey's 89th-minute volley looked to have won the game for the Danish visitors but, three minutes later, Club Brugge midfielder Víctor Vázquez struck to rescue a draw.
Felipe Gedoz impressed for the Belgian side and was the first player to test either goalkeeper when he forced Stephan Andersen into a smart stop at his near post after 18 minutes, before Mikael Antonsson went close for the Danes with a header from Pierre Bengtsson's free-kick. Then, just before half-time, Club Brugge'sNicolas Castillohad a goal ruled out for offsidebefore Andersen made a brilliant save from his own player, as Andreas Cornelius's flicked header veered towards the top corner.
København coach Ståle Solbakken had commented beforehand that he would be delighted to take a draw back to Denmark, and his team defended resolutely in their quest to earn it. Chilean international forward Castillo clipped the crossbar five minutes into the second period with a dipping free-kick from just outside the area, yet Club Brugge rarely threatened their opponents' goal.
Thus it appeared they were a spent force once Amartey's superb volley from 20 metres put FCK ahead, but two substitutes combined to earn Club Brugge a point, Lior Refaelov finding Vázquez, who stroked in a low shot from the edge of the box.