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.
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| First of the season for Ohi |
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 GregersenMolde 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
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| Pellegrino starting where he left off in 2019 |
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)
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