Fredericia with ten players stun FC Copenhagen prolonging tough times for Danish title holders

Fredericia seized control right from the kick off and earned their opener after 23 minutes when a cross from Sofus Johannesen deflected off Junnosuke Suzuki leaving FC Copenhagen goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson unable to react.

Matters worsened for the defending champions in the 38th minute as Mathias Zanka Jorgensen dithered on the ball permitting Felix Winther to divert it towards Friday Etim who calmly finished to make it two goals ahead for the away side.

Jacob Neestrup the FC Copenhagen manager responded immediately after the break by substituting Oliver Hojer and Kenay Myrie with Mads Emil Madsen and Robert Silva although these changes failed to shift the momentum.

FC Copenhagen believed they had narrowed the gap with ten minutes remaining as Mohamed Elyounoussi reacted to Etienne Green the Fredericia goalkeeper spilling a long range effort yet the striker was ruled offside.

During added time the home team pulled one back via a penalty converted by Youssoufa Moukoko following a foul by Svenn Crone on Viktor Dadason inside the area which resulted in Crone being dismissed.

Nevertheless it came too late for FC Copenhagen who now occupy eighth position six points clear of the relegation spots in the Danish Superliga.

In the alternate relegation playoff fixture on Sunday Silkeborg IF secured their initial triumph of the year by overcoming Randers 3 0 on their opponents turf.

Defying predictions Silkeborg dominated the initial 45 minutes and capitalised by netting two goals in quick succession between the 28th and 33rd minutes to establish a strong advantage.

Tonni Adamsen nodded home from an excellent cross supplied by Sofus Berger before soon assisting Callum McCowat who unleashed a powerful shot from the penalty areas edge.

Randers manager Rasmus Bertelsen introduced three replacements at half time and while the hosts displayed marginal progress they could not score the vital equaliser. Silkeborg instead confirmed victory 16 minutes before full time through a stunning effort from afar by Andreas Poulsen.