Norwegian Eliteserien, Sunday 24th September
I was over in Norway for the final Sunday of September as I am visiting family and my brother got me and himself a ticket for the local Eliteserien sides latest game in pursuit of what would be an incredible feat this campaign. (It was a late birthday pressie from him so thank you very much!!!)
Viking, who are Stavanger's biggest football team and highest one in terms on level, are currently in a title race to win the top division in Norway, they had not won the division since 1991 and had been no where near it if truth be told for some time thereafter, they had won the Cup a few years ago but had also suffered relegation the season before that before bouncing straight back, but it had been a turbulent few years for the hosts to be frank.
So to see them top of the division and two clear of Bodo/Glimt with nine games to go was a surprise, but they had been on an amazing run prior to the international break which saw them make up a eight point deficit on Glimt whose own form had dipped somewhat over the same period, and that also included a huge 3-2 for Viking over Glimt too, a statement win you could say.
Their opponents today were Sandefjord, who produced a miracle to stay up last season on the final day before winning a two legged play off against Kongsvinger to keep their place in this seasons Eliteserien, but they are once again having a tough campaign and sat one place and one point above that relegation play off spot, and only four above the bottom two and automatic relegation, although they had won at home last weekend against Stromsgodset, a huge win for the strugglers and no doubt giving them a confidence boost ahead of this one today.
However, Sandefjord would have their work cut out getting something in the league leaders own back yard, they had only managed one win away all season and had lost eight of their eleven away from their Jotun Arena home, the second worst away record in the division, so chances of getting anything as said, on paper at least, seemed small.
Football as we know though isn't played on paper, however, after seventeen minutes of this contest it looked like it would be a long night for the visitors as they found themselves two goals down and having a mountain to climb, the hosts took the lead after twelve minutes when Yann-Erik de Lanlay was slipped in to apply a lovely finish into the far corner, and then the visitors gifted the hosts a second five minutes later when losing the ball in their own third and ended with a square ball across goal for Lars-Jorgen Salvesen to apply the finishing touch and hand the hosts a perfect start.
But, to their credit, Sandefjord did not throw in the towel, they have their own agenda in fighting for survival and after the hosts saw a third goal ruled out for offisde, they got one back when a ball forward saw Franklin Nyenetue slip his marker and round the keeper before eventually sending the ball into the open goal, and then three minutes before half time and from a Viking corner, the visitors countered in devastating fashion and saw Danilo Al-Saed played in on goal to slot beyond the keeper and level the match up at 2-2, an amazing recovery considering the start they had to the contest, the hosts were in shellshock and went into the break level after having such a good start. Football eh.
It had been a very entertaining contest and I was certainly enjoying it, and there was more to come as well, which way would this contest go, well, eight minutes into the second period that all important next goal went to the home side as a cross in from the left found Salvesen at the back post to nod home for his second goal and see Viking retake the lead, could they now hold onto it?
The majority of the 13,022 in the stadium certainly hoped so, and with the players driven on by a decent atmosphere they added a fourth goal with five minutes to go to seal the contest, well that's what we all thought, when substitute and one of the fans favourites Samuel Adegbenro fired home from inside the box after a rather messy passage of play if you were a visiting defender, it was another poor goal to give away and you cannot do that against one of the best in the division.
So, 4-2 up with minutes to go, surely that was that, well no because their was still time for the visitors to set up a nervy last few moments for the hosts after a scramble inside the box hit the arm of a defender, according to VAR, and the referee pointed to the spot after a look at the monitor on the side of the pitch, and Alexander Ruud Tevter walloped the spot kick in off the bar, and they had four minutes of stoppage time to salvage an unlikely point.
After a few tense minutes though, Viking held on for what could be an important three points come the end of the season, they remain two clear of second placed Bodo/Glimt (who also won today) with eight rounds remaining, and with their next two games being against Molde & Tromso, two sides who are well in with a shout of the top places as well, it's going to be a pivotal couple of rounds for sure.
For Sandefjord, it was a great effort but giving away two poor goals in this one will not win you football matches that's for sure, and they stay fourth bottom but only out side the relegation play off place on goal difference now (this after Haugesund drew today) and with a huge home game next weekend against Valerenga to come (one place above Sandefjord and only on goal difference) they must turn their attentions to that one now and forget about this loss today.
A brilliant game though this, very enjoyable and one that will live long in the memory, seven goal thrillers do not come along very often so I was privileged to be at one today, superb entertainment!!!
Full time Viking 4 Sandefjord 3
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