My first full day back in Norway after trip back from Sweden saw me attend the Viking Stadion for a local Rogaland derby between Viking and Haugesund in Norway's Eliteserien.
The hosts have had a largely poor season and with only two wins from thirteen league games saw them bottom of the pile with just eight points. Haugesund sat in mid table with eighteen points and came into this one off the back of a home win over champions Rosenborg.
Therefore the pressure was on the hosts to perform as they needed the points more than their rivals did and the first chance did indeed fall to the hosts but saw a good save at the near post deny them.
The opening quarter hour saw both teams have sights of goal but neither could find the early breakthrough in this one although the host had created the better openings.
Haugesund although marginally second best did go close when they saw a whipped free kick glance of the top of the bar and over although the keeper looked to have had it covered, however just before the half hour mark the hosts grabbed a deserved lead when Kwesi Appiah sent a looping header into the far corner and cued celebrations amongst team mates and fans.
Viking were good value for their lead and Appiah probably should of made it two before half time when he toe ended a cross inches wide but the visitors thought they'd levelled on half time when they converted a free kick at the back post, however this was chalked off after the officials had spotted an infringement.
It meant the hosts went into the break with a deserved lead although that moment proved it was a fragile one whilst it was only a one goal lead.
The hosts had the best two chances in the early exchanges of the second period, firstly when a terrific run and shot was well saved before secondly the hosts curled an effort a foot wide of the far post.
The visitors did have their moments but were ultimately second best. Viking had a couple more decent chances to probably make the game safe with a second, with one shot striking the post, but could not find that all important goal.
You couldn't help but think that these missed chances would come back to haunt the bottom side and sure enough with two minutes of normal time remaining a long throw into the box saw the loose ball poked home by Vegard Skjerve and you could feel the deflation amongst home fans in the stadium. They had played so well but it looked like they had the win snatched away from them.
Viking pushed for a winner in the six minutes of stoppage time that was added on and saw a free kick well tipped over in what was the final act but missed chances earlier had cost them the three points and the visitors were delighted with a draw which they didn't really deserve.
It all meant that Viking remain bottom, five points behind the teams above, whilst Haugesund remind in mid table and equal distance from the top four and bottom three. The hosts may look back to games like this if they do go down knowing they should of won games such as this. However it is another point on the board which may be important too.
No comments:
Post a Comment