FC Copenhagen took another step towards football’s promised land last night by beating APOEL 1-0 at the Telia Parken Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League playoff.
The Lions dominated proceedings throughout, but only managed the one goal through Andrija Pavlovic’s well-taken strike just before half-time.
“I am very pleased with the game,” said FCK coach Ståle Solbakken.
“It would have been optimal if Santander or Delaney had scored from one of the big chances at the end, but the game is still alive and we know we must go to Cyprus and play well next week.”
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Bucking the trend
The Danes have been here before, and last time it didn’t go so well. In 2009, FCK likewise won 1-0 at home against APOEL, but lost 3-1 in Cyprus.
And since then APOEL’s home ground has become a bit of a graveyard for Danish football dreams, with both FC Midtjylland (in 2015) and AaB Aalborg (in 2014) crashing out there recently.
The second leg will take place next week on Wednesday August 24.
