UEFA Champions League: FC Copenhagen 1-0 FK Rubin Kazan
Copenhagen were looking to take on Rubin Kazan in one of the more evenly matched matches in the Champions Leagues, opening night of fixtures for the season.
Both the teams’ managers were aware of the threats that the other teams were capable of producing and weren't planning on taking it easy in the game.
Rubin Kazan managed to defeat Barcelona at the Nou Camp last season, which a feat that not many teams have achieved. They also managed to draw with the eventual winners Inter Milan.
This is why the Copenhagen manager didn't plan on taking it easy against his opponents. He was reported to have said: "Last year they beat FC Barcelona away with great counter play, and they played a draw against Inter, when they actually had the ball the most. We are fully ready to fight. We know how the fight should be approached, and we know 10 of the 11 players and nine of the 11 positions.''
On the contrary the Rubin manager was looking at the bigger picture going into the game and was reported to have said: "Barcelona are the favourites to win the group but we hope to qualify for the next round and are looking forward to enjoying this Champions League experience, testing ourselves against the finest in Europe.”
The match eventually kicked off with Rubin looking to be the more threatening of the two teams. The team was dominating possession and going more on the offensive when compared to Copenhagen.
They even created the better chances in the first half. However despite creating all those chances, the team failed to capitalize on either one of them.
The first half eventually ended with the score card reading nil all.
The second half picked up in a completely different manner, when compared to the first. This time around it was Copenhagen doing all the talking. The team started to string some delightful passes together and were looking to take the game to the visitors.
The second half turned out to be much more entertaining then the first as both side were trying to find that one moment of brilliance that would settle the match.
However it wasn't until the dying minutes of the game till the first and only goal was scored. In the eighty seventh minute, Dame N'Doye towered over the Rubin defence and nodded a ball in with his head. The header only came courtesy of a brilliant cross by Martin Vingaard.
Rubin tried to pull an even later equalizer, however time was not on the team’s side as the match ended soon after the goal.
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