A-Liga: Tough start for newly promoted FC København against the champions from HB Køge
When FC Copenhagen in 2024 kicked off their women’s team expectations were high. And the team have so far been dominating the C-Liga and B-Liga. Today they played their first match at the highest level, when they started the season with a match at home in Vanløse against the reigning Danish champions from HB Køge.
Some of the players have been in the team ever since the journey started a few years ago, while others have joined since.
The visitors from HB Køge won the double last season, after a very strong season. And so far the club have added a few new strong signings, so they will definitely be favourites again this season.
After the first few nervous minutes from both teams, HB Køge started to control the match. FC Copenhagen found it difficult when trying to get out from their phase 1. They insisted on playing the ball from the back, but HB Køge were very strong in their pressing.
The home team found it difficult to get out of the high and intense pressing from HB Køge. And when they sometimes got forward, the experienced HB Køge central defenders in Simone Boye and Maria Uhre calmly took control of the situation.
Korhonen and Oskarsdottir were often dangerous at the wings. HB Køge pushed their two wingers very far up, which resulted in the FC Copenhagen defenders were stretched wide out to cover the entire width of the pitch, as Carusa and Rikke Marie Madsen were a constant threat in the middle all game.
The HB Køge attackers often found room behind the FC Copenhagen defenders, and even though head coach Kasper Klarskov tried to change things a bit after the first half, the reigning champions were still dangerous several times in the second half.
As the second half went on the visitors got more and more dominating. FCK only got a few counter-attacks, but never really tested the HB Køge keeper. The most dangerous player was Rebeka Winther, who did well when she replaced Maria Hovmark for the last 30 minutes. If she can stay fit, she will be a strong option up front for FCK this season.
In the end it ended with a 0-3 win for HB Køge, but they should have scored at least the double amount of goals. If they want to progress to the League Phase of the Champions League in the coming weeks, they need to be more clinical in front of goal and improve the final pass around the penalty area.
Players that really stood out in the match:
Kyra Carusa (HB Køge) striker born 1999.
The American Irish striker have returned ”home” to HB Køge this summer. She was a key figure in the three Championships the club won in 2020 – 2023, and also delivered some top-performances in the Champions League. She works so hard all the time, and is always a danger in and around the opponents penalty area.
Zuzanna Witek (HB Køge) central midfielder born 2007.
Despite being just 18 years old, the young midfielder from Poland already has lots of experience. Joined this summer from KKS Czarni. The Poland U19-captain showed lots of exciting things today. She can pass short and long, and made some nice turns in the middle of the park, were she controlled the speed both in and out of possession.
She worked hard, was superb in pressing the FC Copenhagen players, and she played some marvellous passes in the channels between the defenders to create chances for her teammates. She got an assist, and will get lots more through the season.
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