Dame N'Doye made it a night to remember in Copenhagen by scoring the winning goal against Rubin Kazan.
Copenhagen hitman strikes late on to secure points
Dame N'Doye made it a night to remember in wonderful Copenhagen by scoring the winning goal against Russian champions Rubin Kazan.
The Senegalese striker scored his eighth goal in his last nine games to stretch the Danes' long unbeaten home run at the Parken Stadium in their UEFA Champions League Group D opener.
N'Doye latched onto Martin Vingaard's inswinging free-kick three minutes from time to head the ball past a statuesque Sergei Ryzhikov to claim all three points.
Error-strewn
Danish champions Copenhagen were looking for an improvement on their previous appearance in the Champions League four years ago, when they finished bottom of their group.
Meanwhile, Rubin Kazan spent £36.2million pounds on new players during the summer transfer window, with former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins in their ranks.
The Russian champions knew three points at the formidable Parken Stadium would put them in good stead in a group also containing Barcelona and Panathinaikos.
Copenhagen 'keeper Johan Wiland was made to work hard in what could only be described as an indistinguished and unsatisfactory first half.
Kazan, having won just one of their last five away games in all competitions, were quite content to adopt a counter-attacking approach.
However, defender Salvatore Bocchetti had a good early opportunity for the visitors when his slide rule volley was well held by Wiland.
The summer signing from Genoa was a dangerous figure during the early stages as the Danes struggled to drag themselves into the disappointing contest.
Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo was eye catching in the middle of the park and he created an opening for Rafal Murawski whose devilish cross was almost met by Martins late on in the half.
Rubin began the second half with more urgency creating two opportunities in the first five minutes.
Rafal Murawski turned inside onto his left foot before unleashing a 25-yard drive straight at Wiland and moments later Carlos Edwardo's dangerous ball across goal was hooked over the bar by Vitaly Kaleshin.
The Danes responded through Captain William Kvist, who was given time to switch onto his right foot before firing a low drive straight at Sergei Ryzhikov.
The impressive Martins was replaced on the hour mark while Bocchetti was stretchered off giving the initiative back to the Danes.
Winner
The hosts took charge with 20 minutes of the match remaining and former Chelsea star Jesper Gronkjaer got involved when he struck a prodigious effort straight down Ryzhikov's throat.
Five minutes later N'Doye teed up Claudemir from the edge of the area but the Brazilian failed to trouble Ryzhikov in goal.
The midfielder was given another presentable opportunity minutes later with another similar chance but he could only blaze over the crossbar.
The Russians created a wonderful opening with six minutes remaining but Igor Kasaev failed to pick the right pass, wasting a glorious opportunity to claim the points.
However, just as both teams seemed to have settled for a point apiece, N'Doye won the game with three minutes left on the clock..
Vitaly Kaleshin conceded a sloppy free-kick and Martin Vingaard's ball in was headed into the far corner by the Senegalese striker to claim all three points.
| FC København |
Team Statistics |
Rubin Kazan |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 3 |
Shots off Target |
8 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 4 |
Corners |
6 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
17 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 83.9 |
Passing Success |
77 |
| 18 |
Tackles |
15 |
| 50 |
Tackles Success |
73.3 |
| 53.1 |
Possession |
46.9 |
| 48.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.9 |
|
