Eliteserien Gameweek 2 Review

Game of the Week - Molde v Rosenborg

Saturday night saw the 2018 champions travel to the 2019 champions as Molde entertained Rosenborg.

Molde had looked far more convincing in the midweek games, with Rosenborg looking a little bit lost for ideas in attack against Kristiansund on Tuesday night. 

The warmest weekend of the year in Norway with temperatures hovering around 30 degrees, it meant the players fitness would be put to the test early on in the season.

It wasn't the most exciting first half in Aker Stadium, but there were some decent chances for both sides. 

Zachariassen, headed straight at the keeper when in a promising position, and Adegbenro had a very well hit left foot shot saved by keeper Linde. 

At the other end the best chance of the half fell to the returning Ohi Omoijuanfo. His first game of the season after a minor injury, he was up front with Leke James suspended, and he should have given Molde the lead when a corner came to him at the back post, but he headed just wide.

That was the best chance of an uneventful first half, but Ohi redeemed himself just one minute after the restart. 

First of the season for Ohi

A corner from Eikrem wasn't dealt with by Rosenborg, and when it came to Gregersen, he headed it across goal and it came through to Ohi at the back post to slide in for a simple goal. 

It was a really poor goal to lose for Rosenborg, and it could easily have been two when Ohi went clean through just five minutes later. He couldn't quite compose himself and fired over the bar from the edge of the box under slight pressure from behind.

Rosenborg didn't look dangerous at all, and indeed Brynhildsen could have added another when played in with a beautiful pass from Eikrem. His header was saved but the rebound hit Brynhildsen and rolled towards goal and hit the post.

The last 15 minutes was really the only time RBK had anything resembling an attacking threat. Tagseth had come off the bench, and the triangle of Meling, Adegbenro and Tagseth on the left hand side did combine a few times to create half chances, but nothing Molde couldn't deal with.

It was perhaps the only chink of light in an otherwise uninspiring performance from to Trondheim club, and rumours already of Eirik Horneland being in trouble for his job.

New signing Islamovic looks miles away from a top Eliteserien striker, and they have no attacking sequences at all. 

Molde were comfortable in the end and saw out the game to make it 2 from 2, and it looks like Rosenborg won't be the challengers as they failed to create anything for the second game in a row.

Man of the Match - Stian Gregersen

Molde had a potential defensive crisis after Forren left and Haraldseid got injured for the season, but Stian Gregerson has looked very solid so far this season, and made no mistakes all day here as Molde got their clean sheet.

Molde 1 - 0 Rosenborg


Around the Grounds

Saturday 20th June

The other game on Saturday saw Mjøndalen entertain Sarpsborg 08, and it was Shuaibu Ibrahim who got the only goal of the game, rounding off a nice team move by Mjøndalen, by chesting down a Brustad cross and finishing between the legs of the keeper. 

A second clean sheet in a row for Mjøndalen, as they look solid with there 5 at the back system.

Sunday 21st June

Pellegrino starting where he left off in 2019

Eliteserien went crazy on Sunday as 28 goals were scored across the 6 games. Kristiansund and Aalesund shared nine, as an Amahl Pellegrino hattrick helped the home side to a 7-2 win. Aalesund have now conceded 11 goals in their first two games back in Eliteserien.

There were also goals for Kalludra, Askar, Sørli and Bendik Bye for Kristiansund in their rout, despite an own goal from Pål Erik Ulvestad actually having given Aalesund an early lead.

Fridjonsson scored the other for Aalesund, as Simen Nordli was perhaps there only shining light with two assists.

The other high socring encounter was in Bodø, as Glimt showed they are a serious contender this year with a brutal dismantling of Haugesund inside 50 minutes.

The front 3 of Hauge, Zinckernagel and Junker look like a real threat, and with Saltnes and Berg looking in great form in midfield as well, it was 5-0 before Haugesund laid a glove on Glimt.

Kasper Junker bagged a hattrick, his first three goals for the club for the Dane after his summer move from Horsens, and there were also goals for JP Hauge and Patrick Berg. 

Niklas Sandberg scored a consolation penalty for Haugesund, but there was still time for Sammy Skytte to get his first Glimt goal late on to finish off an emphatic win.

In the battle between two promoted sides in Sandefjord, it ended in a 2-2 draw, as Sandefjord fought back twice from behind to draw with Start.

Mathias Bringaker scored for the second game running to give Start the lead, but a header from Lars Grorud brought it level.

Just before the break it was Jesper Daland who scored after a bit of a scramble in the box after a long throw, but again Sandefjord fought back to earn a point, as another set piece, this time headed in by Rufo Herraiz, undone Start.

In Oslo, Vålerenga and Stabæk was expected to be a tight game, but four goals shared left both teams with one point. 

It was Kosovan international Herolind Shala that opened the scoring after a nice move from Vålerenga, but Stabæk led at the break after two goals of their own. Luc Kassi should have been sent off for a shocking tackle on the half hour mark, but he scored a nice header in the 38th minute, and then his shot was saved, but the rebound fell to Edvardsen to fire home, just two minutes later.

After the break, goalscorer Shala was shown red when he was booked for diving earning him a second yellow, although it did look like a free kick should have gone his way.

But the 10 men of Vålerenga fought back to earn a point, when they earned a pretty soft penalty, that Matthias Vilhjalmsson tucked away. A bad tempered game, not helped by the referee ending 2-2 in the rain in Oslo.

The lowest scoring game of the week saw Strømsgodset pick up 3 points with a 1-0 win over Odd. The only goal of the game came in the second minute, Johan Hove finishing really nicely on the half volley from a Tokstad cross.

The evening kick off saw Brann welcome Viking to Bergen, and after a goalless first half the game came to life early on in the second.

Daouda Bamba was sent through and he calmly lobbed the keeper who was stranded on the edge of his box. He could have had his second just moments later, but he couldn't repeat the feat when presented with an opportunity when Viking gave away the ball in a dangerous area.

It was 2-0 on the hour mark, Gilbert Koomson firing home after a really nice move down the Brann left hand side sent Kristiansen free to cross for Koomson.

Viking missed a golden chance to get back in the game, Tommy Høiland trying a panenka penalty, but goalkeeper Ahamada had not moved and Høiland was left embarrassed. 

The win was rounded off in the 94th minute, Fredrik Haugen sent through fellow substitute, Erlend Hustad to slot home and give Brann a convincing win, and a perfect start to the season.

Two rounds down, and more games on Wednesday and Thursday this week, Eliteserien is well and truly up and running in 2020. 

Results

Mjøndalen 1 - 0 Sarpsborg 08
Molde 1 - 0 Rosenborg
Glimt 6 - 1 Haugesund
Kristiansund 7 - 2 Aalesund
Strømsgodset  1 - 0 Odd
Sandefjord 2 - 2 Start
Vålerenga 2 - 2 Stabæk
Brann 3 - 0 Viking


Gameweek 3 Fixtures

Wednesday 24th June

Aalesund v Brann
Haugesund v Kristiansund
Stabæk v Sandefjord
Start v Molde
Viking v Mjøndalen
Odd v Vålerenga

Thursday 25th June

Sarpsborg v Strømsgodset
Rosenborg v Bodø/Glimt (Game of the Week)

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