Sise’s Nordsjælland beat leaders

Gambia hopeful Joe Sise and his Danish Superligaen side FC Nordsjælland maintain an impressive shut-out derby win over league powerhouse FC Copenhagen.

The two rivals had already met three previous times this season, twice in league play and once in the Danish Cup, with each game taking place in Copenhagen. While Nordsjælland had won one of the two league contests, the most recent clash in late-November ended with the reigning league champions ending the Wild Tigers’ hopes for a third straight Cup title, likely putting revenge in their thoughts at the opening whistle.

Copenhagen applied most of the pressure in the first half, twice testing Nordsjælland’s goal, but the hosts were the ones celebrating their lead in the 54th minute. Mikkel Beckmann played a quick give-and-go from the right to the middle with Nicolai Stockholm, and upon receiving the ball at the top of the box unleashed a wicked 22-yard blast that flew in the left side past the outstretched hands of Johan Wiland.

Shortly after the goal, defender Andreas Bjelland entered the game to shore up the back line, and a heroic performance by the Nordsjælland defense held their visitors in check, with the team taking the much-deserved victory.

Nordsjælland pull to within three points of Copenhagen at the summit of the standings, however will effectively need to make up four points over the final four games due to a vastly superior goal differential favoring the current leaders.