Eliteserien Gameweek 1 - Review

Game of the Week - Aalesund v Molde

Last seasons champions met in Aalesund for gameweek one in 2020. OBOS Ligaen champions Aalesund hosting reigning Eliteserien champions Molde.

There were debuts on either side for exciting youngsters, Simen Bolkan Nordli for Aalsesund and also Ola Brynhildsen for Molde, two young players to look out for this season.

With 200 supporters allowed inside the stadium, it was a strange atmosphere, but they were treated to a really open game for almost all of the 90 minutes.

Eikrem scored the first goal in 2020

The first goal of Eliteserien 2020 was scored after 10 minutes in this game, as Magnus Wolf Eikrem gave Molde the lead. He picked up the ball 25 yards out and tried to play a one-two pass with Leke James. The return pass wasn't great, but Eikrem managed to get the ball back and skip passed a couple of challenge before firing low into the bottom left hand corner. It was 11 goals in 2019 for Eikrem, one of the stars of the league making his mark early on here.

Despite going behind, Aalesund showed a lot of character and quality to get themselves back in the contest. Niklas Castro was causing problems with his movement, and Haugen and Nordli were causing trouble too for what was a slightly makeshift Molde back line due to injuries.

Castro should have had his side level on the 25th minute, but he blazed his spot kick over the bar after his shot had been blocked by the hand of Leke James, earning the Molde striker a booking.

However it didn't take long for the equaliser, and it was an incredible strike by Nordli, seconds after the drinks break due to the heat.

Leke James played a poor pass inside his own half and Nordli strode onto the ball 45 yards out and smashed a curling shot over Linde in the Molde goal, who had been near the edge of his box. What a way to introduce yourself to the fans and the Eliteserien, already a goal of the season contender.

Aalesund continued to press, but they were dealt a huge blow right before the break. A corner from Eikrem ended up at Bjørnbak's feet, his shot was blocked, but Etzaz Hussain was on hand to fire home from 5 yards. There was a question of a foul from James in the build up, but Molde didn't care and went in ahead despite a poor first half display.

Molde came out the second half looking stronger, and indeed made it 1-3 when Leke James tapped home after Haugen had fired a shot come cross in from the left hand side. The initial cross had been poorly dealt with by Andreas Lie in the Aalesund goal, he will be disappointed with his contribution here.

James wasn't done there, but this time for the wrong reason. His eventful day coming to an end when he stretched for the ball and may, or may not, have caught Nordli. The referee saw it as a foul and promptly sent James off with his second yellow card.

This gave Aalesund 20 minutes to get back into the game, but they rarely threatened, and in the end it was Molde who made the points safe, Eirik Hestad firing home from 20 yards with his left foot. A real quality finish from the substitute just five minutes after joining the action.

Molde showed their quality in the end, and Aalesund will have to tighten up defensively. But they have quality up top, and there will be easier tasks to come in the future.

Aalesund 1 - 4 Molde
Man of the Match - Etzaz Hussain


Around the Grounds

Tuesday 16th June

Elsewhere on Tuesday evening, there were goalless draws between Rosenborg and Kristiansund in Trondheim, and also between Stabæk and Mjøndalen.

Last years second placed team, Bodø/Glimt got their campaign under way with a come from behind 4-2 win in Stavanger, against Viking. 

Fredrik Torsteinbo scored a header from a corner, before Ulrik Saltnes finished nicely after a Junker pass to equalise for Glimt.

Viking went back ahead when a beautifullly flicked finish from Even Østensen looped over Khaikin in the Glimt goal to give Viking the half time lead.

The second half was all about the team from Bodø. Firstly JP Hauge got a goal after a great display of pace and a cross to match from Philip Zinckernagel left him with a relatively easy finish.

Then it was Sondre Brunstad Fet on his Glimt debut, tapping in after great work from left full back Bjørkan, who slalomed his way in to the box and chipped over the keeper onto the crossbar.

The scoring was rounded off in the 80th minute as Philip Zinckernagel, who had been a threat throughout, was on the end of a loose ball in the box and calmly sidestepped a defender before firing home for a great comeback win, and evidence that Glimt will be tough to beat again this year.

Over at the Skagerak Stadion the surprise of the night was taking place, as newly promoted Sandefjord managed to win on the road against Odd. 

It was a late show in what had been quite a tight game, but substitute Ze Eduardo came onto the pitch in the 83rd minute, and within 10 seconds had scored the opening goal from a corner. A bullet header to mark his first ever touch in Norwegian football.

It was 2-0 in the 90th minute, as another debutant, 20 year old Sivert Gussiås finishing off a quick counter after Odd had been denied a potential penalty at the other end.

There was time for Torgeir Børven to score a late consolation penalty for Odd, but this was a poor start to the season. Børven, last years top scorer in the league, also confirmed after the game that he will be joining Rosenborg when his contract is up at the end of July leaving Odd with a huge hole to fill.

Dønnum certainly one to watch this season

The final game on Tuesday saw Vålerenga defeat Sarpsborg 08 at Sarpsborg Stadion. It was a tight and fairly even game, but it was 22 year old Aron Dønnum, mentioned as one to watch in my preview, that stabbed home the only goal of the game as the ball fell to him about 14 yards out.

Wednesday 17th June

The final two games took place on Wednesday, with first up Start welcoming Strømsgodset. It was Start who dominated the game, but went in behind when Lars Jørgen Salvesen rose high to head home right at the end of the first half.

Start turned things around though with Bringaker flicking home, before man of the match Eman Markovic marked his Eliteserien debut with a neat finish from 14 yards.

The game finished 2-2 however, as midfielder Hermann Stengel managed to roll in a mishit shot into the far corner, after Salvesen himself had fluffed a shot into Stengel's path.

The final game of the week saw Brann visit Haugesund, where another debutant, Robert Taylor, scored the first goal to give Brann the lead at the start of the second half. 

Niklas Sandberg got Haugesund level from the spot on the hour mark, but it was not to be for Haugesund, and a 96th minute winner from Brann captain, Daniel Pedersen, took all 3 points home to Bergen. It was a real quality header from Pedersen after a nicely whipped in corner from Fredrik Haugen.

With Brann's late winner, it meant we saw five away winners in gameweek one, and nobody winning at home. Playing in front of no support might be affecting the home side more than the away on this viewing.

Results

Aalesund 1 - 4 Molde
Rosenborg 0 - 0 Kristiansund
Odd 1 - 2 Sandefjord
Viking 2 - 4 Glimt
Sarpsborg 0 - 1 Vålerenga
Stabæk 0 - 0 Mjøndalen
Start 2 - 2 Strømsgodset
Haugesund 1 - 2 Brann

Fixtures Gameweek 2

Saturday 20th June

Mjøndalen v Sarpsborg

Molde v Rosenborg  (Game of the Week)

Sunday 21st June

Bodø/Glimt v Haugesund

Strømsgodset v Odd

Kristiansund v Aalesund

Sandefjord v Start

Vålerenga v Stabæk

Brann v Viking