Gameweek 4 Review

Another weekend of Eliteserien football has gone by, that is four games in 11 days for all the teams, and there will be another round of games on Wednesday and Thursday.

This weekend it seemed like the intensity was down very slightly, perhaps not surprising given the schedule and the weather we have been having in Norway, still, there was 25 goals over the eight games.

It has been near 30 degrees Celsius for over two weeks now, and the players will need to continue showing their fitness as we have another two gameweeks this week.

Saturday 27th June

Game of the Week

Vålerenga v Viking

Viking visited Oslo on Saturday evening still looking for their first win of the season. Vålerenga meanwhile were off the back of a 4-1 beating from Odd on Wednesday night, and were looking to get their second win of the season, back home at Intility Arena.

There was a first start on the left wing for exciting youngster, Osame Sahroui, the 19 year old replacing Finne for this one in the Vålerenga side.

It was the home side who started by far the better of the two teams. Shala had a header straight at the keeper which was tipped over, and Dønnum went clean through from a quick counter, but shot straight at Austbø.

However it didn't take too long for the opening goal to arrive, and it was a second of the season for Mathias Vilhjalmsson. Herolind Shala swung in a free kick from the right hand side, and the big striker flicked a header into the net.

For me Austbø could probably do better, it was above him, and I never like to see a keeper being beaten like that, but it was a nice ball in from Shala and a deserved lead for Vålerenga. 

In terms of chances that was pretty much it for the first half, neither side really creating much as Viking continue to struggle for goals.

The second half they started brighter however, Østensen getting his head to a Joe Bell corner, but Klaesson pulling off a decent save.

Then came the real controversial moment of the match, as Vålerenga were awarded a ridiculous penalty. Sahroui had a cross from the left, and standing two metres away, defender Andresson had is arms behind his back. The ball hit his elbow which was against his body, and somehow the referee deemed it worthy of a penalty.

Thankfully for the game, and Viking, Vilhjalmsson  stepped up and his penalty was saved by Austbø, a pretty tame effort from the big striker down to the keepers right.

This seemed to spur on Viking, and Joe Bell, who looked very good in midfield for the away side, played a lovely pass in behind for Østensen, but his effort was well stopped by young goalkeeper Klaesson.

It wasn't long before the equaliser arrived, and it was a quality team goal for Viking. Furdal passed it into the feet of Østensen, who flicked it on to Berisha first time in the box, and he in turn passed it to Ibrahimaj for an easy tap in. A quality goal and a first of the season for the Kosovan international.

Deyver Vega - Costa Rican international

This fired Vålerenga back into life, young Sahroui causing trouble down the left, and his cross very nearly sliced into his own net by Andresson. 

But the winning goal was to arrive, and again it was a set piece. Shala playing it in, and as Adekugbe challenged for it, it broke kindle for substitute Deyver Vega to fire into the roof of the net from 8 yards.

They should have made the game safe, both Finne and Stokke missing good opportunities going through on the goalkeeper, but it didn't matter in the end.

A huge blow for Viking, but an important win for Vålerenga who find themselves in 6th spot after the first 4 games.

Viking on the other hand are winless, only kept off the bottom by pointless Sarpsborg. Viking's only point came in a 1-1 home draw with Mjøndalen. 

Dønnum becoming a real attacking threat for Vålerenga

Man of the Match - It was a good team display from Vålerenga, but Aron Dønnum maybe just sneaks it for me. He is direct and a real threat on that right hand side, cutting in on his left foot. 

He should have had a goal, but he is young and I think developing nicely into a good player for Vålerenga.

Around the Grounds

The other game to take place on Saturday evening saw Odd visit IK Start. In what looked like would be a nice close matchup, it was one way traffic the whole game as Odd ran out 5-0 winners on the road.

Start never got going, a really worrying display for the promoted side who are yet to win. They lost first half goals from Kassa and Hoff inside the first 15 minutes that really set the tone. Kassa finishing nicely with a chip over the keeper and then Hoff running unchallenged from half way, then firing into the corner from 20 yards.

The second half saw Eliteserien's top marksman, Torgeir Børven take his tally to six for the season. He lashed home a penalty and then headed home a corner, to make it 4-0, he looks a great bet for top scorer again this year.

There was time for a 5th, Tobias Lauritsen off the bench to head home after a poor error from Wichne in goal. Odd with back to back wins now and looking more like the team of 2019.

Sunday 28th June

The champions Molde welcomed Stabæk to Aker Stadion looking to continue their perfect start to the season, and produced probably their most convincing display so far, winning comfortably 4-1. Magnus Eikrem got the first, surprising goakeeper Sandberg with a cross come shot at the near post. He really has started the season in great form.

After the break Erling Knudtzon came on and scored with his first touch after Sandberg had twice saved well from Eikrem and Hussain.

Not long after it was 3-0, Leke James on his return from injury, turning home a lovely cross from John Kitolano. Hugo Vetlesen got one back for the visitors but another subsitute for Molde, Ohi Omoijuanfo came on to confirm the win from the penalty spot. Four wins from four for the champions.

Up in Bodø, the other team with a perfect record welcomed pointless Sarpsborg to Aspmyra Stadion, and they kept up pace with Molde by winning 2-1 in a much tighter game than most expected.

Jens Petter Hauge continued his good start to the season when he capitalised on a keeper mistake to score on the half hour mark. Halvorsen then equalised for Sarpsborg after the break, finishing well when the ball broke to him at the edge of the box from a corner.

But it wasn't to be for the bottom of the table club, Ulrik Saltnes scoring with his left foot into the far corner when found in the box by Bjørkan. A quality finish, and Glimt held on to keep up with Molde at the top.

Aalesund made the journey to Strømsgodset and really should have left with all three points, missing a hatful of chances throughout the encounter. Sigurd Haugen gave them the lead, but he also hit the post when it seemed easier to score, and should have done better went sent through 1 v 1. 

As it was, Godset got an equaliser, and it was a third penalty in two games for Mikkel Maigaard, who kept his composure from the spot after Uzochukwu had fouled Ikaunieks a couple minutes before the 90.

Ipalibo Jack was sent off just before the end for the home side, as he denied Haugen the chance to go through on goal again with a professional foul. 1-1 it ended, Aalesund still searching for that first win.

Haugesund picked up their first win of the season as they emerged victorious from a trip to Sandefjord. It was a single goal from Kristoffer Velde that gave all 3 points to Haugesund, running through on the left hand side and finishing into the near post with his left foot.

Sandefjord somehow didn't score when Kristoffer Hansen first hit the post then somehow didn't convert the rebound. Another disappointing result for Sandefjord who are already looking like they could be in for a long season.

Mjøndalen and Kristiansund met in Isachsen Stadion and it was the away side who left with all three points. The first half was goalless, mainly thanks to some incredible stops from both goalkeepers, but early in the second Liridon Kalludra got his first goal of the season, finishing well from an Amin Askar cross.

Then it was the returning Pellegrino who was in amongst the goals again, coming off the bench to grab his fourth of the season, slotting home through the keepers legs.

Ibrahim with 3 in 3 for Mjøndalen

Late on their was a consolation goal, his third game in a row now scoring, for Shuaibu Ibrahim, but it was too little too late for the home side.

The final game of the weekend was Rosenborg travelling to Bergen to meet Brann. RBK were winless, Brann yet to taste defeat, but this game went against the form book. 

Rosenborg, waiting on a new manager after Horneland's departure, fell behind very early in, Gilbert Koomson striking low in to the far corner after a Bamba pass.

Brann dominated the first half, but right on the half time whistle the game was level. It was Even Hovland who scored, neatly touching home a Helland free kick.

With the game running out of time, a moment of luck that could turn Rosenborg's season gave them the three points. Acosta lost the ball to Carlo Holse, and as Kristiansen tried to clear, the ball rebounded off Holse and over the stranded Ahamada in the Brann goal.

Rosenborg won't care how it came, they played far better in the second half and finally got their first win of the season.

With more games to come on Wednesday and Thursday this week, the fitness of the players is being tested to the limit. Thankfully it seems temperatures will drop this week so lets hope for more goals to keep up the exciting start to this 2020 season.

Results

Start 0 - 5 Odd

Vålerenga 2 - 1 Viking

Molde 4 - 1 Stabæk

Mjøndalen 1 - 2 Kristiansund

Bodø/Glimt 2 - 1 Sarpsborg

Sandefjord 0 - 1 Haugesund

Strømsgodset 1 - 1 Aalesund

Brann 1 - 2 Rosenborg

Gameweek 5 Fixtures

Wednesday July 1st

Aalesund v Mjøndalen

Haugesund v Start

Odd v Glimt (Game of the Week)

Stabæk v Strømsgodset

Viking v Sandefjord

Rosenborg v Vålerenga

Thursday July 2nd

Kristiansund v Molde

Sarpsborg v Brann

Top Scorers

Torgeir Børven - 6
Kasper Junker - 4
Amahl Pellegrino - 4

Seven players on 3