Michael Parkhurst went the distance in Nordsjælland's back line as the Wild Tigers rode a strong first-half surge to a predictable Danish Cup victory over minnows AIK 65 Strøby on Wednesday.
While a win by the seventh-division AIK could be considered a nearly unthinkable scenario, Nordsjælland coach Morten Weighorst took no risk, fielding an attacking 4-3-3 lineup which featured a number of his first-teamers including Nicolai Stockholm, Rawez Lawan, Bajram Fetai leading the charge.
Also making his first start for the team was legendary South African attacking midfielder Sibusiso Zuma, a player the team hopes to serve as a boost to their chances for the remainder of the season.
While AIK gave a momentary glimpse as though they might do the impossible in the 16th minute when Kasper Elbæk nearly played Donald Jørgesen free in front of goal, a quick counter-attack led to the opening tally from Nicki Bille Nielsen.
The 21 year-old Danish youth international then netted his sixth in this season's Ekstra Bladet Cup eight minutes later after being set up by Stockholm, who then directly led to the team's third goal in the 28th minute when he was fouled in the box, with Fetai converting from the spot.
One minute after Lawan netted from close range to bring the score to 4-0 in the 36th minute, Zuma scored his first goal in the Nordsjælland jersey in spectacular form, taking the ball near midfield and evading several AIK defenders and lastly keeper Vahid Ghiasvand to finally put the ball into an empty net.
Nordsjælland then proceeded to take their foot off the gas for the second half, going scoreless themselves while allowing AIK's Anders Jørgensen to net a 68th minute goal due to a misunderstanding between Parkhurst and keeper Jesper Hansen, to give the final 5-1 score.
The team must now await the completion of the remaining fourth-round games next week and the October 30 draw before finding out their opponent for the quarterfinals in April, 2010. In the meantime, they will concentrate on rescuing their faltering league campaign, beginning with Monday's all-Yank showdown in Aarhus. |
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