Monday, 26 June 2017

Viking 2s 2 Lura 2

Norsk Tipping-ligaen (Div3) section Three, Monday 26th June 2017

So a day after seeing the first team draw I was back to watch Vikings 2nd team take on Luna in a Norsk Tipping-ligaen (Div3) section three encounter on the club's training facility. 

Viking 2s sat ninth out of fourteen in the Division and knew a win could take them as high as fourth whilst the visitors were in the final relegation place of eleventh and needing a win to possibly take them outside of the drop zone.

The players emerged from the stadium across the road and entered the training pitch surrounded by fencing (spectators sat outside this on concrete terracing overlooking the pitch) and got ready to do battle.

The opening quarter hour produced no shots on target from either side however there was a decent tempo to the game and when the first shot on target did arrive in the 25th minute it resulted in the opening goal when Robin Shroot turned and fired home a left footed effort from twelve yards out.

This goal saw the game explode into life and saw Lura head an effort straight at the keeper before the hosts drilled an effort a foot wide. The hosts looked likelier to grab another before the break as they slowly began to take control of the contest although the visitors did have a penalty shout but it didn't look like one and the hosts went into the break ahead.

Lura came out a much more threatening outfit in the second period and we're level six minutes into the half when a header across goal saw Vetle Høivik bundle home from close range.

The visitors could sense a second goal now and the game was much better for it and sure enough in the 66th minute Lura got their noses in front in what had been a terrific turnaround when a cross found Sander Bjørnå unmarked and he duly slotted beyond the keeper and the visitors were ahead.

As the game entered it's final quarter Viking began to up the pressure slightly and saw a deflected effort almost creep in and then another cross cause concern, however the defence of Lura were dealing with everything that was being fired at them.

The visitors at times were looking dangerous on the break as Viking pushed more players forward in search of an equaliser. However as the game entered the final minutes of stoppage time it looked like the visitors had earned a hard fought win.

But with the clock on 95 minutes and just when it looked like the green wall of Lura's backline had done enough, a corner swung in saw a host of players go for the ball, including the hosts keeper who had come up for the corner, the ball broke loose for Liban Abdi Ali to swing a boot at the ball and send it into the far corner for a dramatic leveller.

Lura surrounded the referee and were furious claiming the Viking keeper had fouled one of them in going for the ball but the goal stood and Lura had the win snatched from them.

The point doesn't really help either side as they both remain where they started the day. Viking will be glad they managed to salvage something from the game whilst Lura were left gutted and saw two points slip from their grasp. It was an entertaining game though I must say in glorious Stavanger sunshine, which is rare!!!













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