Norsk Tipping-ligean avd.5, Monday 21st July
My latest game of this current Norwegian trip saw me pop down the road from my base to Madla Handelslag Stadion, home of Madla who were taking on another local side Sola in the Norsk Tipping-ligaen avd.5, the fourth tier in Norway.
This isn't the first time I have visited this ground and club, and in fact the media man at the club recognised me from the last visit I made there and came over to say hello, and even got me a coffee on the house, which was a very nice touch indeed, it's a nice little set up too and thankfully they have a covered stand there now which in the rain for this particular contest was very useful for the spectators who had turned up so they could keep dry.
Hosts Madla were not having a bad season up to date, they sat sixth in the table and knew if they could muster a win here they would jump up three places to third, Sola themselves needed the points for differing reasons, they sat just two places and one point above the drop zone so a win was paramount for them to give themselves some breathing room to the clubs who currently occupied that bottom three.
Madla though started the better and it only took them thirteen minutes to get their noses in front, they won a free kick about twenty yards out in a central location, and Dana Peroti fired a powerful low set piece at goal which was too firm for keeper Sverre Joa who could only help it into the net via his leg, and twelve minutes later Madla had doubled their lead.
A loose ball on the edge of the box found it's way into the path of Peroti, and he duly thumped a lovely left footed effort past Joa into the bottom corner, and the hosts were taking complete control of this fixture, they should of added a third but contrived to hit the woodwork, and although Sola had fleeting forays forward they didn't really test home keeper Nicolai Gundersen.
Madla then looked to have all but sewn up the game in first half stoppage time when they added a third, Ali Memed burst into the box before firing a lovely powerful effort across Joa into the far corner, and at 3-0 up heading into the break, it seemed they would go on and win this one at a counter.
Sola needed something, anything really, but should have gone 4-0 down but again Madla struck the woodwork before the visitors somehow scrambled clear, but in the 57th minute they grabbed a lifeline when a lovely ball across the box found Ola Alsaker at the far post to convert a first time finish, and this totally swung the momentum in their favour as Madla were now wobbling somewhat.
And they were really worrying in the 72nd minute when Sola pulled another goal back to really get on the comeback trail, which seemed totally unlikely at half time, a corner swung into the six yard box eventually coming off Madla's Norbert Marchewka and ending up in the net, 3-2, and it was very much game on now!!!
However, Madla regrouped and managed to give themselves some breathing space in the 78th minute, they stole the ball off their opponents and countered in devastating fashion, ending with Daniel Karimirouzbehani driving into the box and firing a lovely right footed effort beyond Joa into the far corner, it was a brilliant goal and it settled the hosts down, whilst putting a dampener on the visitors comeback attempts.
Further chances came for both, but in the end Madla had done enough to take the points and move themselves up to third, although eight points behind leaders Vidar who right now look the ones who most likely to go on and take the title and promotion to the next level, for Sola that first half showing cost them, and they drop a place to fourth bottom now and remain just a solitary point above the drop zone. A very enjoyable game though it has to be said!!!
Full time Madla 4 Sola 2
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