Copenhagen loss angers boss Neestrup
FC Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup was left disappointed by what he viewed as the latest in a string of poor performances as his side suffered a 3-2 defeat by Nordsjaelland before heading to Kilmarnock for Thursday's Europa Conference League play-off second leg.
The visitors were hit by three goals within the opening half hour and, despite finding the net twice in the second half, drop to fifth in the Danish Superliga, four points behind Silkeborg, after six games.
Copenhagen lost 1-0 to Banik Ostrava before winning the penalty shoot-out in the previous round of the Conference League, then were held 1-1 at home by Viborg before two late goals secured a first-leg advantage over Kilmarnock.
"We had a golden opportunity to go out there and correct the poor performances from our past few matches," Neestrup told his club website, saying his side were "too deflated" by the concession of the early goal.
"We didn't work together as a team. We only managed to pull ourselves together when it was too late."
Nordsjaelland struck after just three minutes as Peter Ankersen's cross to back post was headed in by Sindre Walle Egeli.
Two minutes later, Marcus Ingvartsen gathered an Egeli pass before volleying superbly under the crossbar from 18 yards.
Copenhagen were then caught on the break as Conrad Harder's low ball across the penalty box was hammered first time into top corner by Benjamin Nygren.
The visitors struck back nine minutes after the break as striker Orri Oskarsson took a through ball from former Celtic winger Mohamed Elyounoussi in his stride to fire low into far corner.
When midfielder Viktor Claesson rose to flick a header home from winger Robert's chipped cross, Copenhagen still had 12 minutes of normal time remaining to complete the fightback, but the home side held on to lift themselves level with the visitors on points.
Neestrup said it "created some tension at the end" but added: "I still don't think we had a proper grip on the game, even though our second half was better."