Randers FC in the lion's den

One of the last three matches of the autumn season against FC København at Parken was never going to be easy. Yet the Randers FC team put up a valiant fight and showed a lot of promise. Nevertheless, two swift FCK goals at the start of each half exposed a lack of early concentration and Randers paid the price.

The first goal came after only 55 seconds of play when Brazilian Ailton Almeida was given the benefit of the doubt in an offside position and passed Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard to score. The early goal was followed by a period of intense FCK domination before Randers FC got themselves back into the game and José Junior came close a couple of times.

After the break, another quick goal - and yet again by Almeida once again sailing close to the offside wind - after only 4 minutes put the game effectively beyond the reach of the visitors, despite several good efforts by Junior, Mikkel Beckmann and David Addy and a magnificent save by Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard.

But there were definite signs of improvement, which bode well for the last two vital matches of the season on Nov 29 and Dec. 6.

New champion at Essex Park

New signing Yura Movsisyan won the American Major League Soccer Championships with his team Real Salt Lake when they beat Los Angeles Galaxy (with no less a personality than David Beckham in the line-up) 6-5 after extra playing time and penalty shoot-out. The American attacker will be joining Randers FC when they commence training for the spring season in January. The game ended in a 1-1 draw after full time and went all the way to a penalty shoot-out before Robbie Russel scored the decisive penalty.

Tobias Grahn departs

Midfielder Tobia Grahn has agreed terms with Randers FC to part company only 11 months after being signed.

"I do not feel that I have played up to my full potential at Randers FC and have therefore asked the club to be released from my contract," commented Grahn.

Randers FC trainer Ove Christiansen had the following to say on Grahn's departure:
"Tobias has asked to be released from his contract and the club has agreed to his request. We wish Tobias good luck in the future."

Randers FC youngster in Denmark's U21 line-up

At only 19 years old, Mads Fenger has shown sufficient potential to be picked for Denmark's U21 team in the run-up to the European U21 Championships to be played in Denmark in 2011. Fenger made his U21 debut in the recent match against Poland and has also played 5 times for the U19 team.

Second Division team well on course

Despite the problems dogging the SAS League first team, Randers FC's Second Division team has finished the first half of the season in fine style, with a 5-0 win over Holstebro and 3rd place overall. The team has won no less than 8 out of 15 matches and only lost 3.