Sunday 5th July
Game of the Week
Stabæk v Rosenborg
Sunday evenings' game, the final game of the weekend saw Rosenborg travel to Stabæk for a tricky looking fixture as they looked to kick start their season.
There was a first start for new man Torgeir Børven, Islamovic dropping to the bench. This young Stabæk side had impressed against Strømsgodset in midweek, but Rosenborg were steadily improving, and on a windy evening at Nadderud Stadion, it would be a real test for them.
The first half was a fairly dull affair, both struggling to create chances and cope with the conditions. The only real chance fell to Gjermund Åsen, his left foot effort comfortably saved by Sandberg as the teams went in at half time goalless, neither looking like getting the breakthrough.
The second half started much the same, but the breakthrough arrived just before the hour, and not surprisingly it was from a set piece. Rosenborg got it, a great ball into the near post from a Helland corner, Sandberg just got his fists to it before Børven, but only managed to punch the ball onto the neck of Gustav Valsvik. It was the big defenders first of the season, only his second in Rosenborg colours.
This opened the game up and the lead was soon doubled. Islamovic having just come on with some lovely play involving Holse and then Trondsen, rose up to head home from close range. A perfect cross from Trondsen, the big Swede Islamovic finally getting his first goal for the Trondheim club.
With confidence now flowing for Rosenborg, and Islamovic, he tried his luck with a curling effort from 25 yards that had Sandberg scrambling. It went just wide on this occasion, but the game was over soon after.
A third goal arrived, three in a 15 minute spell, this time a lovely strike from Kristoffer Zachariassen. It was his first for the club since his summer move from Sarpsborg, something he has been threatening for a few games.
Again it was Trondsen with the assist, passing in to Zachariarssen who smashed home from the edge of the box and gave Rosenborg a comfortable lead.
From then on the game died out, although there was one final chance, a good strike from right back Hedenstad, very well saved down to his right by Sandberg.
A really disappointing night for Stabæk, but Rosenborg on the up under caretaker manager Trond Henriksen. With Børven in the striker role, his movement really freed up some extra space for midfield runners, and I think now Rosenborg can start to climb the league.
Stabæk will have better nights, I don't think the conditions helped the game, and the first goal was always going to be crucial. They have young talented players, and there will be some games they struggle to get up to the high levels they can achieve on other days.
Man of the Match - Gustav Valsvik got the crucial opening goal, but more importantly he was very solid all day. Winning all his headers, and doing all his defensive duties very well. As much as the win, it was a very good solid display, with Stabæk hardly creating anything all day.
Around the Grounds
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| Junker got his second hattrick of the season |
Three days after a good win at Sarpsborg, Brann made the trip to Bodø to play top of the table Glimt. It quickly turned in to a disaster as the Glimt attacking steam train ran through the Brann defense and they were 4-0 up before half time.
The first was an early indicator of how, left back for Brann, Ruben Kristiansen, would get on for the rest of the day. Zinckernagel got in behind him, but as the ball was deflected off the keeper, instead of clearing, he tried to hold of Zinckernagel, and Kasper Junker ran in and fired home into an empty net.
The next goal was nice play from Saltnes on the left, firing across for a tap in for Junker again. Next up it was Zinckernagel, again Kristensen with a mistake, the ball hitting his back and then as he tried to recover he brought down Zinckernagel for a clear penalty. The Dane stepped up to fire it bottom left for his fourth of the season.
Before the half Saltnes had a goal, tapping in a rebound after Hauge had a shot saved by Ahamada in goal. Then in the second half there was only one further goal, and it was hattrick number two of the season for Kasper Junker. The Dane now has 8 for the season, the latest a nice finish with his left foot when put through by Zinckernagel. Zinckernagel himself with five assists to add to his four goals.
Another massive win for Bodø/Glimt, they now have scored 24 goals in the first six games, and have every reason to be excited for the remainder of the season.
Second placed Molde managed to remain just two behind Glimt with a 2-1 win of their own over Mjøndalen. It was far less convincing than Glimt though, as a late penalty save from Andreas Linde helped them hang on after being 2-0 up at the half.
Goals from Aursnes and Kitolano had Molde cruising, but a deflected Quint Jansen free kick gave Mjøndalen hope. Molde could have killed the game before late drama when Holmgren Pedersen gave away a penalty. Experienced Mjøndalen man, Christian Gauseth, stepped up but saw his strike saved.
Odd and Haugesund played out a goalless draw at Skagerak Arena, although not through want of trying. Haugesund created the most chances, with Sandberg and Velde particularly prominent throughout.
But Odd nearly won it through Filip Jørgensen, his shot from the edge of the box hitting the bar and bouncing down onto the line. But neither found a goal, both sides in the bottom half after six games.
Sarpsborg visited fellow strugglers Sandefjord, and emerged with their first 3 points of the season. It was a comprehensive win and a performance to go with it. A first senior goal for Sarpsborg for 19 year old Ismaila Coulibaly, a lovely flick from a corner, was then followed by a first of the season for Jørgen Strand Larsen.
Joachim Soltvedt added a third in the second half to take Sarpsborg off the bottom of the table and leave Sandefjord searching for their first win since gameweek 1, and still having only scored one goal from open play. They now haven't scored for four games running and look in big trouble.
Kristiansund travelled to the Marienlyst stadion to take on Strømsgodset, and left disappointed to have not taken all three points. Amahl Pellegrino took advantage of a horrible keeper error, stealing in and putting it into an empty net.
Then probably the goal of the season not long after, Pellegrino controlled a clearance from his own free kick before smashing a half volley in off the underside of the bar from 25 yards. Top quality from the Kristiansund man, already his 7th goal of the season.
But Godset showed some fight in the second half and got back in the game through Johan Hove, a nice strike into the bottom left corner from 20 yards. Then they were back level when Moses Mawa got his first of the season after a free kick wasn't cleared. A draw that Godset will be happier with as they continue to struggle a little early on this season.
Saturday 4th July
The two games on Saturday both ended in draws as both Aalesund and Start continue to look for that first win.
Start had the lead in the 77th minute against Viking through Eirik Schulze, but they couldn't hang on. It was a quality strike to equalise from Zymer Bytyqi on his left foot from the right corner of the box into the far top corner.
Substitute Bytyqi nearly won it late, but his shot on the turn just whistled past the post, meaning Start are 15th and Viking are 12th after six games.
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| Fridjonsson in good form for Aalesund |
Aalesund will be kicking themselves again as they threw away a two goal lead at Vålerenga. It was Holmbert Fridjonnson that scored both goals for Aalesund, the first a world class cross from David Olafsson, putting it on his head. The second was another good cross from the other side, but the defender looped it into the air trying to clear, and the big Icelandic striker just squeezed it over the line, maybe even with his arm.
But they couldn't hold on, first it was Stokke who got Vålerenga back in it with his first goal for the club, then somehow Aalesund found themselves short at the back and Dønnum went clean through and unselfishly passed it over to Bård Finne for an open goal.
It ended 2-2 but both could have won it, although Sam Adekugbe was sent off for the home side, his second booking for diving, which may well have been a foul and was probably a little harsh.
So Glimt continue their great start to the season, and now only Aalesund and Start are yet to win. With a week in between the next game, the players can rest up for a well deserved midweek free.
Results
Start 1 - 1 Viking
Vålerenga 2 - 2 Aalesund
Glimt 5 - 0 Brann
Molde 2 - 1 Mjøndalen
Odd 0 - 0 Haugesund
Sandefjord 0 - 3 Sarpsborg
Strømsgodset 2 - 2 Kristiansund
Stabæk 0 - 3 Rosenborg
Gameweek 7 Fixtures
Saturday 11th July
Haugesund v Molde
Rosenborg v Strømsgodset
Sunday 12th July
Aalesund v Glimt
Kristiansund v Stabæk
Mjøndalen v Vålerenga
Sarpsborg v Start
Viking v Odd
Brann v Sandefjord
Top Scorers
Kasper Junker (Glimt)- 8
Amahl Pellegrino(Kristiansund) - 7
Torgeir Børven(Rosenborg and Odd) - 6
Philip Zinckernagel(Glimt) - 4
Shuaibu Ibrahim(Mjøndalen) - 4
Holbert Fridjonsson(Aalesund) - 4
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