retired_el_chanclas

Hah, I love it. The scandal, the winning, angrying up the blood of the danes. Football drama at it's best.

Nice work.

shannon2007

FC Kobenhavn - The Rough Ride

The board were upset, the fans were upset. It seemed everyone regretted bringing Olaf Danielsson to Denmark, and many just wished he would pack up his bags and leave - and take his pish Faroese players with him. And that was before they had even kicked a ball in earnest.

In many ways it was probably a blessing that the first match for Olaf's side was in Sweden, as the Royal League kicked started the second part of the Danish season. With Kobenhavn having drawn two and lost one of the three games played so far, it was vital they pick up a win against Helsinborg which would leave them with two homes games to qualify. A fairly poor performance all round was salvaged by a 43rd minute Peter Damgaard goal and the doubters were, if not silenced, at least muted. For a while.

A 2-1 defeat at home to fellow Danes, current Champions AaB followed by another 2-1 defeat at the hands of Norwegians SK Brann, and as the side crashed out of the tournament so the knives were being sharpened for Olaf. There would need to be a great start when the league resumed or heads would roll, and a nice easy match away to bottom club AB turned out to be just that as Holst and Berg got their Kobenhavn goals tallies started - Berg with a brace - and with the help of an own goal from AB's Trager wrapped up a nice 4-0 win. It didn't satisfy the dissenting fans.

A 1-1 draw with Brondby wasn't a disaster before a third consecutive away match, this time to Esbjerg where there lay a potential minefield. Esbjerg were one of the six sides all within a few points of the title race, but after a dull first half, Berg and Holst switched rolls from the AB game and eased the side to a nice 3-0 win and it seemed that perhaps only the bitterest of fans could now be against the manager. A 1-0 home win over AGF and it was off for the grudge match with Fremad Amager.

There was a great deal of interest in this match - could the side that the Danielssons used for their own ends achieve some kind of revenge? Well, no they couldn't. The former golden boy of Amager, who had risen through their own youth set up, came back to haunt his fellow employers and contributed another brace in an easy 3-0 Kobenhavn win. There was still though an element of the Kobenhavn support that wanted Danielsson put to the sword, and when they fell behind at home to AaB in the Danish Cup Quarter Final tie, they were quick to make their feelings known. As the match progressed, so the dissention grew and it seemed even the home support were disspointed when Anders Berg equalized with sixteen minutes of normal time left to play. Yet the home fans suddenly had a change of heart when on 106 minutes Berg added a second and three minutes later Einar Petersen made the game secure with a stunning 25 yard drive. AaB were reduced to 10 men on 111 minutes as former Fremad Amager midfielder Sergiy Rozhok was red carded, and four minutes from time Thomas Overgaard hit a superb shot from the corner of the area and AaB had been hammered.

A 1-0 win over Viborg kept the title race open, before a crucial visit to reigning champions AaB, out for revenge. This was an incredible match in which AaB took the lead after just five minutes and threatened to take revenge in fine style. Kobenhavn though eventually settled and on 34 minutes Anders Berg levelled the game. Right on half time Kobenhavn won a penalty, but Horg's effort was well saved by the AaB keeper, his follow up rebound was also saved but the ball finally fell to Berg who blasted the ball home, pointing to Horg as if saying, 'Thats how you do it mate!. Berg's smile though wouldn't last till the end of the match as two late goals gave AaB the win and the pressure was suddenly all back on the management from the fans, and more importantly, the board.

A 1-0 win over Frem did little to ease Olaf's situation and even a 5-2 aggregate win over First Division SonderjyskE which saw them into the Danish Cup Final, did little to appease a stupid and frustrating support. A 1-0 lose away to fellow title challengers FC Midtjylland left the side in 4th place with four matches to play, but only two points behind leaders AaB. Six teams were all within five points of the lead, and with three matches of the four at home - the away tie at fellow challengers OB - and a final day meeting with Brondby, the title was very much on for Olaf who could well end up with a domestic double. Perhaps that will shut up the moaning fans - but I wouldn't hold my breath.

shannon2007

Faroes Under 19's

Although there were some familiar faces, there were also a fair sprinkling of new hopefuls in the Under 19 squad for the 2009 Championships. Many of the squad which had reached the Final of the last tournament had been promoted to the full squad, and the Danielsson's decided it would be wiser to bring in new players.

Bergur Holst, now 17 years old and having moved to Kobenhavn remains in the squad as does 18 year old Keflavik keeper Frank Pedersen. Jorgen Skov (18) who is also part of the new Kobenhavn youth squad replaced Hans Pauli Thomsen.

Although right back Ronnie Danielsen has been part of the full squad, the 17 year old Kobenhavn player is recalled to the youth squad to help him gain more experience at this level. Back up is provided by debutant Birgir Hognesen (16) of Breidablik who is a strong physical player but needs to work a bit on the technical side. He does of course have youth on his side.

At left back, 17 year old IBV player Birgir Joensen comes into the squad for the first time and he can play either side. Heini Samuelsen, who has been capped at U-21 level is back up but he is a fairly poor player.

In the central of the defence 16 year old Kristian Rasmussen of IBV is a promising prospect in a position that has beeen relatively weak so far, and he should be partnered by abother 16 year old, Oli Kjaerbo of Kobenhavn. 18 year old Janne Peltonen, 17 year old Kari Djurhuus of Stjarnan and 17 year old Bogi Jakobsen of Frem are the back ups for the central defence.

Huginn's 18 year old Hallur Joensen will occupy the defensive midfield role, backed up by 15 year old Bardour Poulsen of FH. Joensen is far from looking like a future international, and Poulsen hasn't quite developed yet to know how he will be.

Jan Poulsen (17) of Kobenhavn gets his chance in the midfield, and is a very promising youngster. Janus Poulsen (18), of IF is decent technically but lacks physical attributes and is very slow. Hans Pauli Joensen (18) of Hivdovre, Janus Samuelsen (15) of Valur and Kobenhavn's Rasmus Nissen (17) are available too.

Up front, 16 year old Kobenhavn striker Petur Hojgaard takes the central role. Nowhere near the class of a Berg or a Holst, he is nevertheless a decent looking young player. 17 year old Allan Holm is the back up. On the wings 17 year old Kristian Joensen of IBV should play down the left, backed up by promising 17 year old Kobenhavn midfielder Magni Danielsen. On the right wing is 16 year old Magnus Poulsen of KR, who certainly has pace and strength but perhaps lacks something technically.

Birgir Andreasen (15) of Vikingur is also in the squad but is more of a central based attacker.

Despite having reached the Final in 2008, the Faroes still had to negiotiate the first qualifying group again this time and were drawn with Austria, Georgia and Denmark. Petur Hojgaard was the hero against Austria as his goals on 24 and 65 minutes sent the Faroes into a two goal lead. Austria hit back though in the 67th minute, and ten minutes from time levelled the match. In injury time the Austrians won a penalty, but it was brilliantly saved hy Bergus Holst and in the end a decent draw.

Magnus Poulsen bagged the only goal of the match ten minutes from time, as Georgia were overcome in a very hard fought match. Denmark were sure to pose a serious threat, and things didn't look good as Bergus Holst put the ball into his own net on 35 minutes. The Danes though were reduced to 10 men right on the stroke of half time and eventually that proved a turning point as the Faroes battled back to win 2-1 and claim a place in the second round.

Slovenia, Portugal and Serbia & Montenegro stood in the way of a second successive appearance in the Finals for the Faroes. It went well against Slovenia, as another Petur Hojgaard brace gave the Faroes an excellent win, but against the Portuguese the gulf in class was shown as a hattrick from Nuno saw the Portuguese cruise to an all too easy 3-0 win and the level needed by the Faroese was there to see, but it was hard to see how that gap could ever be closed.

With qualification gone, there was no pressure in the final match and goals from Hojgaard, Rasmussen and Danielsen saw the Faroes record an excellent 3-0 win over Serbia & Montengro. Although they had missed out on a Finals place, nevertheless some more excellent performances and they youngsters had nothing to be ashamed about at all.

shannon2007

Kobenhavn - The 2009 League Run-In

As restlessness grew, despite the possibility of a League & Cup double, so the season entered the crucial final stages. As Silkeborg came to Parken, they themselves were still not 100% sure of staving off relegation and for sure this would not be an easy ride for Olaf's team. As the days passed, and more and more people seemed to join the sack Danielsen brigade, it was becoming increasingly obvious that Olaf simply needed to deliver this title if he was to stay in a job.

Things started well as Aki Joensen hammered home a 30 yard free kick on 19 minutes, but five minutes later Silkeborg were level from the penalty spot. Just after the half hour, Christian Holst restored the lead, only for the visitors to pull level inside two minutes and thats how it stood at the break. The discontent inside the stadium was tangible, and even when Holst gave Kobenhavn the lead for the third time, the atmosphere was still tense. Silkeborg threatened time and again, but three minutes from the end Anders Berg finally got the fourth goal and the points were secure. The fans were satisfied, but still far from happy.

The match away to Odense could well be the pivotal point of the season. With OB's title challenge fading - they had been a few points clear at the top at one stage but now lay back far back after three defeats in their last four games. As expected a tough match ensued, and the deadlock wasn't broken until seconds from half time as Morten Larsen, stepping in for the injured Horg, blasted a penalty into the net. Eighteen minutes from time Berg got a vital second and the points came to Parken as OB saw any hopes of the title now ended.

The penultimate league match saw relegated AB come to Parken, and the fans watched as an incredible game unfolded before their eyes. Aki Joensen drove home a great free kick from the edge of the area on 15 minutes, and eight minutes later AB were reduced to 10 men as Lars Timm was sent off. Joensen thundered home the resultant free kick, and seven minutes from half time AB were reduced to nine men as Karsten Jensen conceded a penalty. Morten Larsen didn't miss from the spot and two minutes from half time the contest was over as Berg hit the fourth. A minute after the break Holst made it five and a few minutes later Berg got his brace. It was oh so simple now for Kobenhavn, but Berg was determined and eighteen minutes from time completed his hattrick and the pish taking was complete.

If Kobenhaven won their next two matches - the Cup Final against Midtjylland and the final league match against Brondby - they would walk away with the domestic double. Yet still the Parken fans weren't happy.

What morons.

shannon2007

Cup & League - The Conclusion

And so the stage was set. A club whose fans and board hated their highly successful and internationally respected manager, stood on the verge of having delivered to them a League & Cup double. They didn't deserve it. Yet as Olaf told the players - forget the board, they knowing nothing about football. Forget the fans - they're Danish. All that matters is that we go out there and do the business, not for them but for ourselves.

Not only were Midtjylland the current holders of the Danish FA Cup, they also harboured - albeit very slim - hopes of somehow wresting the Danish title away from Kobenhavn or Brondby. Midtjylland had won the last meeting between the sides, 1-0 in the League and they certainly didn't come into this match expecting anything other than a win. With home advantage though, Kobenhavn were just about favourites in the eyes of most, but such was their supports relationship with the manager, that many felt if Midtjylland grabbed an early lead then the Kobenhavn fans would get on the backs of their team and the match would be over.

Certainly it seemed that was, as the visitors started the brighter and created most of the early chances and with 35 minutes gone - with audible roars of derision from the home support - it was Midtjylland who took the lead. There was a growing sense of unease from the home fans as half time approached and during the interval a certain section of the ground could even be heard chanting for the manager to be sacked. The players must certainly have heard this, but four minutes into the second half Anders Berg headed home a Damgaard cross and the match was level - the dissenting fans were silenced, for now at least.

Try as they might, neither team could produce a goal and the match went into Extra Time which also saw a stalemate. So we were down to the lottery of a penalty shoot out, and imagine having to take these in front of your home support - a large percentage of whom were probably actually hoping you would miss.

Anders Berg was first with a spot kick, and has no bother in sending the ball into the net to give his team the lead. Heini Kristiansen pulled of a magnificent save, and Holst heaped the pressure on the opposition with a well taken kick. Midtjylland did score with their second kick, but when Aki Joensen missed it seemed to give them him - until Paciencia's kick was saved by Kristiansen, Olaf's side had one hand firmly on that Cup. Morten Larsen had the chance with the fourth to viurtually win the match, and he didn't miss which meant that if Lazarenic missed Kobenhavn would have the Cup. For the third time, stand in keeper Kristian's went the right way and made another superb save and even the most grudging of Kobenhavn fans were happy to accept Cup success. Of course.

Yet despite having just won the Cup, there was still an element of the support that just didn't seem to want to be happy with anything Danielsen did and they were starting to become quite tiresome. It would be easy for Olaf to walk away, but he knew that what he was doing here was for the good of the Faroes and that at the end of the day that was all that really mattered. The big day finally arrived and Brondby came to town for the League title show down. A draw would probably be enough for Kobenhavn, but defeat would end their title dream and for 40 minutes the tension in the stadium was tangible. Then Anders Berg struck and two minutes later Holst added a second and the title was as good as won.

Holst added a third on 71 minutes, but ten minutes from time Brondby tried to stage a comeback. It lasted for all of two minutes before Berg made it 4-1. As the Kobenhavn fans danced and sang to celebrate the title, so with four minutes left Brondby grabbed a second but it was too little to late and Olaf had gloriously guided his team to a famous double.

The board were grudgingly grateful, declaring that winning the double had given them a little bit of hope that just perhaps Danielsen might be worth keeping and that certain section of the support still seemed determined to be hateful. They were all irrelevant though because the success was achieved in spite of them and now Olaf could genuinely look forward to the Champions League - which surely this time would provide a kinder route to the groups stages?

BarryLFC

Hurrah \o/

shannon2007

Belgium v Faroe Islands; Faroe Islands V Slovenia
2010 World Cup Qualifying matchday 5 & 6
Saturday 30th May & Wednesday 3rd June 2009

Belgium had started off their World Cup 2010 Qualifying campaign rather badly as the lost 2-1 away to the Czech Republic then went down 1-0 at home to Slovenia, and that of course left them with a mountain to climb already. It was far from impossible, and especially as the group marched on and it became clear that no-one apart from San Marino was going to keel over and being destroyed. A 5-0 win in San Marino was just the boost Belgium needed and friendly wins over Sweden, Romania and Russia showed that they were after all, a half decent side. Their qualfying quest continued with a 2-0 home win over Slovakia and with three further home games in a row, the Belgians were starting to feel confident.

In days gone by, Belgium would have been expecting to rip the pish out of a Faroe Islands side at home, but on current form Ingi's side were a team to be reckoned with and at the very worst it would be silly to take them for granted. In truth this was far from a great game, as the Faroes proved stubborn to break down and both sides struggled to create that many chances. As the final whistle came, it was Ingi's side who left the happier with their goalless draw, and for if nothing else, for the first time ever the Faroes had moved into the world's top 100 nations.

At home to Slovenia there was real hope of a win that would put the Faroes right into qualifying contention, and that was a damn sight more than anyone could ever have dreamed of. A crucial injury to Christian Holst after just six minutes was negated eleven minutes later as Slovenia were reduced to 10 men. Yet perhaps that proved not to be a good thing as far as the Faroes were concerned, as the Slovenian's proceeded to sit everyone behind in the ball and with chances hard to come by it turned into a frustrating night for the Faroese forwards. In the end, a 5th draw kept Ingi's side's unbeaten record intact, yet despite that fact this should be viewed as a creditable result there was that nagging feeling that this was two points dropped.

Even so, the Faroes sat three points off the leadership with four matches to play, and that impossibly ridiculous dream still lived on.....

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Slovakia | | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Czech Republic | | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Slovenia | | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Faroe Islands | | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Belgium | | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | San Marino | | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 16 | -13 | 1 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_puly1364

Great double! And also, I hope your WC dream won't die!

BarryLFC

To be fair, you couldn't have got a better draw, but the side is doing itself proud

shannon2007

Exactly my thoughts HD, there isn't and Italy or Spain etc and whilst the other nations are ok, they're not brilliant and take points of each other which always gives you a chance. I don't think we'll ever have a better chance