HSV lose 1-0 to FC Copenhagen in friendly

Larsson hands Copenhagen the early advantage

Head coach Merlin Polzin opted for a line-up consisting of possible regular starters for his side’s first tough test of pre-season. In addition to the established players throughout last term’s promotion campaign, three new signings Torunarigha, Remberg and Philippe also featured from the off as the coach set up his team in a 3-5-2-1 formation. Elfadli, Soumahoro and Torunarigha formed the back three while Mikelbrencis and Muheim dropped back to create a five-man defence, operating as wing-backs whenever the opponents were in possession. As defensive as this formation initially appeared, the opening stages of the match did not reflect this kind of approach. HSV repeatedly sought to disrupt Copenhagen’s build-up play out wide, which worked very well until the 10th minute, when the reigning Danish champions took the lead with their first opportunity. Jordan Larsson, son of 104-time Sweden international Henrik Larsson, put the hosts 1-0 up with a first-time shot from Achouri’s cross, catching out Heuer Fernandes, whose movement took him in the opposite direction (10’).

The game’s next action saw former BVB Bundesliga player Youssoufa Moukoko involved for the first time. After a scramble in the six-yard box, the striker failed to beat Heuer Fernandes from close range, with the goalkeeper making a lightning reflex save with his leg to prevent his team’s deficit being doubled (16’). The record champions of the Danish Superliga, whose opening competitive match awaits against Viborg FF next Friday, looked the more determined going forward in the period that followed as well. HSV had a lot of possession but only got themselves into two threatening situations in front of goal shortly before half-time. Firstly, Königsdörffer missed the chance for the equaliser with a free header from an offside position (43’) before Kotarski in the FCK goal clawed a shot from Dompe away from the corner of the net (45’+3). In the final minute of the five minutes of stoppage time, which came about due to a pyrotechnic incident, Mikelbrencis was adjudged to have committed a foul on Lopez inside the penalty box. However, Froholdt fired the resulting spot-kick over the bar, meaning the hosts took a narrow 1-0 lead into the break.