Danish champions FC Copenhagen proved too strong for Crusaders in their Champions League first leg game last night at Seaview.
Emerging 3-0 winners, the visitors opened the scoring after just six minutes through Paraguayan forward Federico Santander when he connected with a Ludwig Augustinsson corner to send a bullet-like header beyond Sean O'Neill.
Moments earlier Declan Caddell might have nodded the Crues in front only to divert Richard Clarke's delivery over the bar.
And Caddell came close to levelling on 35 minutes but he was unable to beat 'keeper Robin Olsen after getting on the end of a Paul Heatley punt forward.
It perhaps proved to be a pivotal point in the game as Copenhagen doubled their advantage five minutes later when Andreas Cornelius headed home Peter Ankersen's right-sided cross.
Then, eight minutes into the second half, Rasmus Falk blasted the ball into the bottom right corner from 20 yards to complete the scoring and present the Crues with a huge challenge in the return next Tuesday.
