AALBORG, DENMARK - Aalborg BK took another important step in their quest for gold as they beat FC Nordsjælland 3-1 in front of 8,198 spectators at home at Energi Nord Arena on Sunday afternoon.

It was, however, more the scoreline than the play that made the team look like serious championship contenders. Captain Danny Califf played the full 90, but like most of his teammates, did not play his best game.

It was the home side who looked like they wanted it more from the beginning and a first minute shot by Jeppe Curth went just over the goal.

Three minutes later, it was Nordsjælland's Andreas Dahl who moved across the field before leaving the ball for Issey Nakajima-Farran, whose shot went straight at AaB keeper Karim Zaza.

FC Nordsjælland were already starting to put heavy pressure on the home side, meeting them high on the field to make accurate passing difficult for the table toppers.

It was, however, AaB who had the next chance after eight minutes of the game when Michael Jakobsen received the ball on the left side of the penalty area. His cross found Lasse Nilsson whose header went narrowly over the bar.

Two minutes later, Nordsjælland responded when Thomas Kristensen fired from 20 yards, but his shot went just wide of the post.

After 22 minutes, the visitors came close again when Califf slipped on the turf, giving Martin Bernburg a one-on-one chance with Zaza, but the keeper came out on top with a good save.

"Especially in the first half, they had quite a few chances on lazy plays where we're just not doing our jobs," Califf told American Soccer Daily after the game.

"I slipped on that one. The footing came completely out. I don't really know what else I could do on that one other than try and tape the turf to my feet," he joked. "It was a less than stellar performance, but that's the way it goes."

Five minutes later, it was Nakajima-Farran who broke through the home defense, but his attempt hit the side-netting.

In the middle of the Nordsjælland pressure, however, it was Andreas Johansson who raided up the left flank, moved inside the penalty area and opened the scoring with a beautiful lob over Nordsjælland keeper Jesper Hansen.

The lead would not last long. The home fans were barely done celebrating the goal when Bernburg fired a low drive out of Zaza's reach from 20 yards for the equalizer.

Only four minutes later, however, a clearance after a corner went to Allan Olesen, who headed it back into the area where Kasper Risgård - with his back to the goal - nodded over a poorly placed Hansen and into the net for a 2-1 home side lead at the break.

The second half was more even in terms of play, but it was the visitors who would again have the first chance as Bernburg outran Califf for the ball but again, Zaza came to the rescue.

Only two minutes later, SAS Liga Player of the Month Thomas Enevoldsen sent Curth through on goal. Daniel Jensen went down to block the first shot, but Curth beat a hesitant Hansen to the rebound and slotted it in for the 3-1 lead.

The rest of the game went by with few highlights. Zaza saved a shot from Søren Christensen in the 62nd minute, but Nordsjælland could not create the necessary chances to get back in the game.

"It was probably one of our worst performances of the year," Califf told ASD. "This team always causes us problems and today was no exception."

"It was an attitude thing, I think. Everyone was just a step behind mentally and especially in the first half, they really took advantage of it."

"I think championships are built on results like this where you play like crap and still end up getting the result. We're pleased with that but we need to go back and iron some things out."

AaB are now six points clear of FC Copenhagen who lost 2-0 at home to FC Midtjylland. Califf and his teammates travel to Herning to meet Midtjylland next weekend.

ASD's Three Stars
#1 Martin Bernburg
#2 Andreas Johansson
#3 Karim Zaza

Scoring
AAB - Andreas Johansson 6 28'
FCN - Martin Bernburg 9 30'
AAB - Kasper Risgård 4 (Allan Olesen) 34'
AAB - Jeppe Curth 11 (Thomas Enevoldsen) 54'

Line-ups
AAB - Karim Zaza; Allan Olesen, Steve Olfers, Danny Califf, Michael Jakobsen, Thomas Enevoldsen (Martin Pedersen 86'), Kasper Risgård (Anders Due 67'), Thomas Augustinussen, Andreas Johansson, Jeppe Curth, Lasse Nilsson (Siyabonga Nomvethe 72')

FCN - Jesper Hansen; Henrik Kildentoft, Daniel Jensen, Johnny Lundberg (Allan Olesen 51'), Dennis Cagara, Jonathan Richter, Andreas Dahl, Thomas Kristensen, Issey Nakajima-Farran (Mads Thomsen 61'), Søren Christensen (Henrik Bødker 78'), Martin Bernburg