Randers FC join in the celebrations in Copenhagen. Marc Nygaard top scorer!

Randers FC earned a place in the limelight after a fantastic away draw with SAS League champions FC Copenhagen (FCK), with a scoreline of 3-3.

Thanks to close rivals AGF losing against Vejle and Randers' own aggressive performance against the champions, the club finished as number 5 in the league - its best placing ever - and striker Marc Nygaard finished the season as top scorer.

Just before the match, Nygaard was crowned as best striker in the league by the Onside football TV programme, with a league score of 16 goals including two spectacular headers against FCK, yet is still ignored by national team coach Morten Olsen for the clash next week against Sweden.   

Randers FC started the game aggressively in front of a crowd of over 32,000 with Carsten Fredgaard - in his last match for Randers - going close followed only a couple of minutes later by Kenneth Møller Pedersen.

FCK fought back with Ailton Almeida beating the Randers defence but blazing over the bar, and a near miss by Danish international regular Jesper Grønkjær.

First blood went to Randers FC when Marc Nygaard rose to a briliant cross from Kenneth Møller Pedersen and headed the ball past FCK keeper Johan Wiland.

1-0 to Randers FC.

Half an hour later, Jesper Grønkjær was tackled on the edge of the penalty box by Søren Pedersen, but fell sufficiently far into the box for referee Claus Bo Larsen to point to the spot. Morten Nordstrand converted to 1-1.

Just before half time, a combination of Søren Berg, Marc Nygaard and Tidiane Sane served to allow Randers FC to go into the break 2-1 up.   

The second half had barely got under way before Marc Nygaard once again rose into the air to convert a David Addy cross with a header, to make the scoreline 3-1 to Randers, and nearly making it 4-1 only a couple of minutes later when Tobias Grahn slotted the ball just wide. Marc Nygaard came close to a hat-trick, but was denied by a last ditch effort by FCK's Ulrik Laursen.

With 20 minutes to go, FCK piled on the pressure, but it took yet another penalty to get past on-form keeper Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard, who brought down Morten Nordstrand. Taking the kick himself, Nordstrand hit the post, but was lucky enough for the ball to bounce off Stuhr Ellegaard and go in the net.

Only 4 minutes before time, Atiba Hutchison brought FCK level and Martin Vingaard could have brought them in front, if not denied by a save from Kevin Stuhr

Ellegaard.

The last match of the season ended 3-3, and Randers FC can look back on a truly great season and an historic 5th place in the SAS League, thanks not least to a run of 10 games to the close of the season with only one defeat - and Marc Nygaard as SAS League top scorer - plus a place in Europe next season.

Two international players move on

Striker Bédi Buval and winger Tiago Targino will not have their contracts renewed after this season, which means their appearance against FCK will be their last for Randers FC.

Randers FC's Coach John Faxe says:
"It's always a sad occasion when we have to say farewell to two players of this calibre and who create a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing room. But we believe that Bédi and Tiago will not be a part of our first team strategy for next season, and we therefore wish them all the best in their future careers."

Talented keeper extends stay at club

21 year-old Peter Friis Jensen has extended his contract with Randers FC for the rest of 2009. He joined as a 16 year-old and according to goalkeeper trainer Stephen Paddon has come a long way in that time:
"It's always a pleasure to work with Peter. He's keen to learn and ambitious, and it will be exciting to see how far he goes - I think it's going to be far!"

Veteran bows out

Carsten Fredgaard joined Randers FC in 2005, and played his last match for Randers FC against one of this former clubs - FC Copenhagen. At the age of 33, the left winger says:
"I have had a fantastic time at Randers FC, particularly when you think of where the club was when I joined and where it is now, and I leave with a certain sadness. But with a new baby to think of, it's time to return to Zealand."

Randers FC Director Jacob Nielsen had this to say about Carsten:
"We have been so lucky to have Carsten at Randers FC for so many years, and he has been with us during our rise from the Viasat Sport Division, through the SAS League, when we won the Cup - when he was crowned as 'Cup Fighter'- and in our UEFA Cup campaign. We are sad to say goodbye to Carsten."