FC Copenhagen defeated FC Nordsjaelland 2-1 this afternoon to go 19 points clear of second-placed FC Midtjylland, strengthening the defending champions bid for a third successive SAS-Liga crown.

Stale Solbakken's men established a two-goal lead through a Claudemir strike and a Cesar Santin penalty either side of the half-hour mark. Christian Gytkjaer pulled one back with 16 minutes to go but the struggling visitors could not find an equaliser.

Elsewhere in Denmark today, Brondby moved up to third with a 2-1 victory at rock-bottom AaB. Nikolaj Agger and Mike Jensen put Brondby in control with Rasmus Wurtz's late strike proving nothing more than a consolation.

Esbjerg climbed off the foot with a 1-1 draw at Silkeborg.Tim Janssen gave the strugglers a 34th-minute lead which was cancelled out by Christian Holst 19 minutes into the second half.

AC Horsens won 3-0 at Sonderjyske with Gilberto scoring twice to add to an effort from Issey Nakajima-Farran. The hosts played with ten men from the 58th-minute onwards after Olafur Ingi Skulason was dismissed.