Copenhagen suffer Gronkjaer blow

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- FC Copenhagen may have paid a heavy price for their first point in the Champions League group stages with playmaker Jesper Gronkjaer suffering a suspected recurrence of a groin injury.

"It doesn't look good," captain Tobias Linderoth said after Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Benfica. "We'll have to wait and see what's happened with him."

Gronkjaer fell to the ground clutching his groin after shooting from the edge of the box late in the first half of the group F match.

He tried to keep on playing, but his limping grew increasingly pronounced and he had to be substituted before the break.

After that, Copenhagen managed only harmless long-range shots that sailed high or wide of goal.

While the club waited for news on Thursday, they could take heart in the prospect of Swedish international Marcus Allback returning from suspension for the next match, at Celtic on September 26.

The Danish champions dominated the match, earning praise from local newspapers who last month hailed a major breakthrough when Copenhagen beat Ajax 2-0 in Amsterdam to reach the Champions League group stages for the first time 3-2 on aggregate.

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