FC Copenhagen U19 lose 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in UEFA Youth League opener

 

FC Copenhagen’s Under-19 side suffered defeat in their opening UEFA Youth League fixture, losing 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen’s youth team at Tingbjerg Idraetspark on Thursday afternoon. The hosts began with Oscar Buur in goal, Dominik Sarapata in midfield, and Abdul Daramy out wide, but they were quickly on the back foot.

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It took just nine minutes for the visitors to break the deadlock. Leverkusen’s 18-year-old forward Emmanuel Chigozle Owen found space on the left flank before unleashing a fierce strike that flew past Buur, leaving the Copenhagen goalkeeper no chance.

Leverkusen continued to dictate the tempo and dominated much of the play, restricting Copenhagen to a handful of opportunities. The Danish side had a golden chance to equalize when Sarapata cleverly picked out Daramy, but with the goal gaping, the winger could not convert. That miss proved costly as the Germans stayed in control.

By half-time, Copenhagen were still in the contest, but their struggles in possession and lack of cutting edge hinted at more trouble to come.

After the break, Copenhagen attempted to raise their level but were unable to wrestle momentum away from Bayer Leverkusen’s well-organized side. The German visitors remained dangerous and doubled their lead just after the hour mark.

Owen was again the difference-maker. This time, Dustin Buck rattled the crossbar with a powerful effort, and Owen reacted fastest to sweep home the rebound for his second of the afternoon. His brace gave Leverkusen a comfortable 2-0 cushion and effectively killed off the match.

Copenhagen pushed late in search of a response, hoping to spark an unlikely comeback. However, their efforts lacked precision in the final third, and the Leverkusen defence dealt calmly with the limited pressure they faced. The visitors showed maturity in protecting their advantage and ensured the game ended without serious threat to their clean sheet.

For FC Copenhagen, it was a disappointing start to their European campaign, as they struggled to compete against a technically superior Leverkusen side. The result leaves them needing improvements quickly if they hope to advance in the competition.

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