Brodd 2 Flekkerøy 1 - Second half goals from Lukas Emanuelsen & substitute Isak Hebnes see Brodd to first win of season & inflict Flekkerøy's first defeat of new campaign after they led through Andreas Endresen's first half strike

Norsk Tipping-ligean avdeling 4, Saturday 18th April

My final match of this current trip in Norway saw me back at a Fourth tier contest and again in the Norsk Tipping-ligean avdeling 4 as I made a return trip to Brodd FK and the NSE-banen Midjord kunstgras after visiting them last season in July when it was a very wam day indeed.

It wasn't quite as warm and sunny on this occasion, far from it, although the sun did peek out of heavy cloud at times, Brodd had finished last season in sixth place at this level, but this time around their start had not been so good, two games and two losses so far left them with zero points, something they were wanting to put right in this contest.

They would be up against Flekkerøy, a side who had won one and drawn one in their two matches so far, they had come down from the second division last season after finishing bottom of their section in the Post Nord ligean having won only three games in that campaign, so this year was about bouncing back so if they could remain unbeaten after this contest they would certainly have a good platform to build from.

The first half was a very scrappy affair, not many chances and to be honest neither side, especially the hosts, were not warming to referee Georg Bårdsen who was certainly stamping his authority shall we say, infuriating some of the 270 crowd in attendance too, it kind of added to the scrappy nature, both teams came close though, Rafa Mertens had a great chance for the visitors but saw his effort well saved by hosts keeper Erlend Jacobsen, whilst down the other end Brodd were screaming for handball inside the box but this fell on deaf ears from Bårdsen.

Shortly after he then gave a foul against the hosts and this resulted in some pushing and shoving between Brodd's Liban Ali Abdi & Flekkerøy midfielder Dirirsa Gamachis, both who were booked as a result, and towards the end of the half both managers also received bookings after they either said something to each other or the referee & or assistant on that side, as said neither side were happy with the decisions they were either not getting or anything else for that matter.

Their was to be a goal though before the half was out, it came ten minutes before the break, and it was a belter too, Andreas Endresen thumping an unstoppable effort beyond Jacobsen to see the visitors go into the break a goal to the good and on their way to a second win in three, and the hosts were heading for a third straight loss and needed to turn this one around if they were to get any points on the board.

They certainly came out with a bit more purpose in the second period as they certainly did not want to fall to a third defeat in three to start this campaign, and with an hour gone found a leveller, a wonderful ball in from Vergard Aasen was perfect for Lukas Emanuelsen whose volley crept over the line after keeper Markus Kristiansen did his best to keep the effort out, and then with 76 minutes on the clock Brodd had turned it around, with two second half substitutes combining very affectively indeed.

Harun Barise was the assist, playing a lovely ball through to Isak Habnes who slotted a lovely finish past Kristiansen and now the hosts had something to hold onto, what did the visitors, who were heading for a first defeat of the season, have in response.

They found a very resolute hosts defence standing up to them, and could not find a way through, several stoppages and some time wasting meant there was nine minutes added on, a point referee Bårdsen was keen to point out to everyone in the stadium, oh and he booked another coach on the hosts bench too after he disagreed with something, standard fare in this contest.

The hosts did manage to hold on though, and could even have sealed it late on but fluffed their lines, but it's an important win to get their campaign off and running points wise, although after the final whistle hosts substitute Storm Skandsen was given a straight red by referee Bårdsen for what I can only assume was dissent, not sure why you would do this when you've just won the game but nevermind, it was a small blot on the hosts copybook in an otherwise successful day.

Full time Brodd 2 Flekkerøy 1

There were some other games today in the division today, let's see how those went:-

Mandalskameratene 1 Haugesund 2s 1 (The points were shared in this one, Gustav Holmen handed the visitors a first minute lead but Simon Valand levelled for the hosts late on in the first half, and the home side would end the game with ten men after Tobias Hansen was given a straight red with four minutes remaining)

Staal Jørpeland 0 Madla 3 (Madla took all the points against Staal Jørpeland, taking the lead through Lucas Sørås in the 25th minute before doubling that lead ten minutes after the break through Sebastian Sandtorv. And they sealed the points with a third when Sandtorv netted again in the 63rd minute)

Våg 3 Hinna 0 (The final 100% record went in this one as Hinna suffered a 3-0 loss, their chances were not helped when the visitors saw Vegard Føyen was sent off just past the half hour mark before seeing the hosts go in front two minutes before the break courtesy of Ole Kristian Fuglestad. The hosts then added two late goals through Salai Mahlaw & Aleksander Kovac to add gloss to the scoreline and record an impressive win)

Varhaug 0 Vindbjart 1 (Sakarias Ringsbu netted on the hour mark as Vindbjart netted a narrow win over Varhaug)

Let's now see the latest table following today's results:-

Madla are the leagues only unbeaten side left now after three games meaning they sit top of a very early table, Våg, Vindbjart & Hinna all have six points after three games each, whereas only Stabæk 2s have zero points now after others picked up their first points of the season, they do play Åkra on Sunday so have the chance to pick up some points for the first time this season.

Anyway that completes my last blog from Norway for now at least, I will try and get back before the season is done in the autumn.

  

Vaulen 1 Austrått 3 - Second half goals from Jacob Aanonsen, Fredrik Selsås & Tobias Frøiland see Austrått make it three wins from three after coming from behind to defeat Vaulen who have now lost their two opening games

Norwegian 5. divisjon avdeling 2, Thursday 16th April

My penultimate game in Norway for this trip in April 2026 saw me take in a sixth tier game over at Kabal-banen, home of Vaulen, who were welcoming Austrått to their ground for a fifth division section two contest.

The hosts have had a rather up and down last few seasons, three years ago they won promotion into the fifth tier after two years of fighting for promotion, they came bottom in 2024 but were reprieved but finished rock bottom last season to return to the sixth tier, and they lost their opener this season 5-0 at home to Siddis, so not the ideal start.

And they would be up against an Austrått side who had opened their campaign with two wins from two, both of those had been away as well, a 2-1 win at Havørn was followed up with a 3-1 success at Jarl, so they were looking to make it three successive wins away from home to start their season (the Jarl game was supposed to be at home but I suspect they are not able to play at home just yet, hence that one was swapped).

The opening forty five minutes didn't really yield much in the way of goals, the hosts best chance came when Ekene Gonzalez drove a ball across the box and narrowly avoided anyone getting a telling touch, whereas down the other end the visitors did have the ball in the net after Morten Svendsen found Mama Mohammed via a deflected cross, but the flag went up to rule that one out, apart from that though, not a lot else happened.

That was until the 42nd minute, with me worrying the game may end goalless, I was relieved to see an opening goal, and it came for the hosts who netted their first goal of not only the game but in the season so far, Gonzalez lobbed a pass forward which was well brought down by Daniel Olsen, he then found Vetle Rugland before his pass found full back Sondre Tveit who then lofted a finish beyond visiting keeper John Kåre S. Fiskå to hand the hosts a 1-0 advantage at the half.

How would the visitors respond to going behind so late on in the half, well they responded very well indeed, whatever was said to them in the dressing room during the break obviously helped as they were level five minutes after the restart, Dia Undheim managed to keep a ball in that looked certain to go out, he fired it across goal and it was recovered by Svendsen who then sent it back across goal for Jacob Aanonsen to side foot home from close range.

And Svendsen, who was fairly instrumental in the visiting attacks with his dead ball and crossing ability, assisted again in the 73rd minute as Austrått got themselves ahead, the full back's corner being headed home by skipper Fredrik Selsås, however, the third goal for the visiting side which came in the 82nd minute was all of Vaulen's doing, and it pretty much sealed the points too.

A ball across the penalty area landed at the feet of a defensive player, and they for some reason tried to play it back to keeper Sondre Askvik, but, substitute Tobias Frøiland was standing in between them both and couldn't believe his luck when the ball was presented to him, and he duly flicked a finish past the keeper and into the net, whoops, and Vaulen were now staring a second successive defeat in the face.

They had several minutes to try and force an unlikely comeback, but this was never really on the cards, and were at risk of being caught on the counter by the visitors, but, it was to end 3-1 to the visiting side and they now have nine points from nine and have the perfect start to their campaign, not something that can be said for the hosts who have zero points from their two games thus far.

Full time Vaulen 1 Austrått 3

There were some other games in the division this week, shall we see how those games went.....

Tuesday 14th April

Sola 2s 7 (Paulsen 14,78, Touroupo 35, Al-Azaizi 43, Elde 45, Hesby 63, Al-Mansoori 90)

Siddis 4 (Formo 58,85,88 Årthun 83) (Ansari-amjadian sent off 65)

Staal Jørpeland 2s 8 (Norland 5,33, Hinna 10, NÆSS 17, Galka 19, Ali 23,29, Hobberstad 49)

Havørn 1 (Kaarvaag 67)

Thursday 16th April

Jarl 0

Bogafjell 3 (Høie-Holgersen 34, Urdal 43, Sandve 90)

Stavanger 4 (Karlsen 11, Grapes 15, Skjæveland 45, Horsfjord 90)

Mastra 1 (Ueland 39)

An utterly bonkers game at Sola Stadion, and yes I had considered going to this one, oops, the hosts leading 6-1 before almost falling apart but managing to halt what would have been an incredible comeback from ten man Siddis who lose their 100% start, bottom side Havørn's awful start continued as after losing 11-0 at leaders Bogafjell last time out they were 8-0 down against Staal Jørpeland 2s in 49 minutes, the hosts ended up winning 8-1 to net their first win but for Havørn its three losses and twenty one conceded.

Talking of Bogafjell, well in three games they are yet to concede so far and have netted twenty goals, their latest win a 3-0 win Jarl who have zero points from two, as do Vaulen as said as they remain tenth out of eleven sides, Austrått's come from behind win sees them third on goal difference along with the leaders and Stavanger who have also netted three wins from three after they netted four against a Mastra outfit who have lost two out of three so far.

So, just the thirty-two goals in the division this week, plenty of entertainment to be had!!!

 

My blog on Norway's OBOS-ligaen for 11th/12th/13th April featuring two games, on Saturday I was at Oster-Hus Arena as Odd defeated Sandnes & on Sunday at Bryne Stadion to witness Ranheim's hard earned victory over Bryne

Norwegian OBOS-ligean, Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th/Monday 13th April

This weekend saw me take in two OBOS-ligean matches which is the second tier in Norway and the highest level of games i'd be taking in this time around, I would be at the Oster-Hus Arena in Sandnes on Saturday afternoon & then at the Bryne Stadion in Bryne on Sunday evening, below is how those two games fared and also how the remaining six games went in Round Two of the season.....

Saturday 11th April

Sandnes Ulf Vs Odd (Oster-Hus Arena, Sandnes)

There were four games on Saturday afternoon in the division, and I was in Sandnes to see if the hosts could bounce back from their opening round defeat to Hodd, Ulf had won promotion back into the OBOS-ligaen after being relegated down into the second division the previous season, it's hasn't been the smoothest of years since they dropped out of the top flight over a decade ago and it culminated with their relegation to the third tier last season.

This season would therefore be all about carrying on that momentum built up from a successful season last year when they won their Division Two section by six points and now they must do all they can to stay in the second tier and perhaps build from that and dream of one day returning to the Eliteserien, those are dreams echoed by their opponents Odd who suffered relegation from the top flight two season's ago.

Odd, who reside from the city of Skien, had been a regular fixture in the top flight in recent years until that poor season in 2024 when they finished bottom, and last season's ninth place finish in the second tier probably wasn't what they had in mind either, however they got their campaign off to a brilliant start this time around, netting a 4-0 home win over Sogndal, starting as they meant to go on you could say, & coming into this fixture against a side who had just won promotion back into the second tier, they would have been supremely confident of netting another three points although this was Ulf's first home game back in the second tier for over a year, so they would have been up for it no doubt.

It looked like it would be a long afternoon for the hosts though in the early exchanges, Ulf had hardly touched the ball when they went behind in the fifth minute, a corner from Syver Aas into the six yard box saw hosts keeper and skipper Aslak Falch challenge Odd striker Faniel Tewelde, but the keeper appeared to misjudge the cross and the ball went in off the visiting player, Falch claimed he was impeded but this fell on deaf ears and Odd had an early advantage.

Odd totally dominated the opening twenty minutes or so and Sandnes as said could not get any possession of note, but, as the half wore on the hosts began to see more of the ball, and on the half hour mark were awarded a penalty after Filip Jorgensen was adjudged to pull back an opponent in the box, and Ole Sundgot stepped up to fire home the spot kick, and it meant they would go into the break all square.

Odd though would take control once again in the second period, helped by a lucky second goal eight minutes after the break, Tewelde played winger Samuel Skjeldal down the left flank, and the latter's cross appeared to take a nick off a defender trying to block it, and sent it looping over a scrambling Falch and into the far corner, another messy goal conceded by the home side, and Odd would not relinquish the lead again. 

And in the 65th minute they all but sealed the win when the same combination for the first goal proved fruitful for the visitors, Aas sending in a free kick which found Tewelde totally unmarked in the penalty area to send a header beyond Falch, way to easy and it meant the visitors would go on to record another three points and make it two from two so far this season, whereas Sandnes Ulf have now lost both their games so far and are finding their return to the second tier a rather tough one thus far.

Sandnes Ulf 1 Odd 3

I also took a rare video after the game of the visiting players celebrating with their small travelling band of fans from Skien, it's been an enjoyable start to the season for them, am sure they would like that to continue.....

Here is how the other three Saturday games went:-

Haugesund 4 Stromsgodset 2 (These two came down from the Eliterserien last season, the hosts had finished bottom after a dismal season, but they managed to get the better of Godset in this contest and continue their perfect start to this season.  The first half was actually goalless but then came all the goals, Anders Bondhus giving Haugesund the lead five minutes after the break, and they made it 2-0 just past the hour through Sory Diarra.  Godset though then produced a comeback, pulling one back through Elias Melkersen in the 68th minute before levelling at 2-2 just two minutes later courtesy of Sebastian Pingel but the hosts were not to be denied, retaking the lead in the 81st minute through Bruno Leite before sealing the points late on through Eirik Andersen)

Strommen 0 Egersund 3 (Egersund began their season with victory over newly promoted Strommen, the visitors made the playoffs last season so would at least like to do this again, and they were helped in this one when the hosts were reduced to ten men twelve minutes before half time when Maximilian Balatoni was given a straight red, and by half time the visitors had capitalised on their extra man with two goals late in the opening forty five minutes.  Oscar Kapskarmo gave them the lead from the resulting penalty that led to the sending off of Balatoni, and it was two nil right on half time when Chris Sleveland netted, it remained this way until late on when Egersund capped a good start to their campaign when Pawel Chrupalla grabbed their third and final goal of the contest)

Sogndal 0 Lyn 3 (Lyn, who come from Oslo of course, are now only one division away from being back in the Eliterserien, this after the original side went bust around fifteen years ago, they had to reform and begin in the seventh tier, and they got their latest season off to a flyer with victory at Sogndal who have had a difficult start to their own campaign.  All the goals came before half time in this one, Lyn taking the lead through Andreas Hellum in the 14th minute before Hellum netted again midway through the half to double Lyn's advantage.  And Anders Olsen then made it three nil in the 40th minute which more than proved enough for the visitors to take all the spoils in this one) 

Sunday 12th April

Bryne Vs Ranheim (Bryne Stadion, Bryne)

Their were three games on Sunday and I was at Bryne Stadion to see if Bryne could respond to a poor 3-0 loss at Kongsvinger in the opening round of games as they settled to life back in the OBOS-ligean once again, a league they have become familiar with over the last two decades.

The club turned 100 years old just two days before this game, the 10th April, they are a very historic club in Norway and are of course where a certain Erling Haaland begin his professional career too, but since they fell out of the top flight back in 2003, they have spent all that time trying to get back, they even dropped into the third tier a few years back but after winning promotion back to the second tier in 2020, they finally got that promotion back to the Eliterserien in 2024.

But, their stay in the top division only lasted one season as they were relegated back to the OBOS-ligean last season after losing the play off final to Aalesund, so once again they now have to try all over again to get back at the top table, they will find their latest challenge a tough one though as Ranheim themselves lost out on promotion from the OBOS-ligaen last season in the play offs, this after a sixth placed finish in the division last time out.

The visitors will be beginning their league campaign after not being in action in the opening round over Easter, and they will be looking to try and at least grab a play off spot once again this time round, and maybe go one further than they did before, they did spend a couple of seasons in the Eliteserien themselves in 2018 & 2019, but it's been the second tier ever since for them, they certainly had hopes of dashing the hosts 100th year old celebrations and also getting their season off to a winning start.

Well, after just four minutes the visitors had the lead, and it was the hosts who were the architects of their own downfall, a ball looped over the backline seemed to be running into the hands of keeper Jan de Boer so the hosts duly left it, but they misjudged the ball and maybe the wind as well and the ball actually ended up short of the keeper and saw Famara Camara attempt to get on the end of it, keeper de Boer did manage to beat the attacker to the ball and punch clear but only to Mikael Johnsen who duly thumped the loose ball back past de Boer and into the net, not the start Bryne were hoping for that was for sure.

It could have got worse for the hosts too when Franklin Nyenetue, who was causing them issues down the right, saw a great chance well saved by de Boer, but the hosts did carve out more of the openings in the first half but were found wanting in front of goal, Remi-Andre Svindland probably had the best of them, bursting into the box and hitting the post not once but twice, summing up the hosts luck or more lack of conviction.

Ranheim though when they attacked looked dangerous, and sure enough ten minutes before the break they doubled the lead to add further frustration to the hosts and there fans, Nyenetue laying a ball back to Johnsen who side footed home beautifully into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, two for him, two for the visitors who looked in good shape as the teams went back to the dressing room for half time.

The hosts needed to get the next goal in this contest if they were to have any chance of a comeback, and in the 66th minute they were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for a handball inside the box, it looked slightly harsh in my opinion but Nicklas Strunck stepped up to fire the spot kick in off the post and it was certainly game on now, and it had woke the crowd up who had been fairly quiet and subdued thus far.

Bryne were now pressing for a leveller as Ranheim were now having to withstand quite a bit of pressure, but with just over fifteen minutes remaining Ranheim struck a killer blow by netting a third in a rare second half attack, keeper de Boer making a decent save to thwart Nyenetue but the rebound fell to Oliver Holden whose effort deflected past de Boer and restored the visitors two goal cushion, and that appeared to be that.

However, if Ranheim thought they would cruise to the points they would have to think again as Bryne pulled one back with ten minutes to go to set up a grandstand finish, Lars Erik Sodal's shot at goal was wayward but it fell perfectly to Strunck who redirected it beyond Jacob Storevik and into the bottom corner, game on again!!!

Bryne then threw everything at their opponents to try and salvage something from the game, the best chance the hosts had to levelling was when Strunck headed over from six yards out, Ranheim were clinging on for dear life but they did manage to hold on and thwart the hosts from taking anything from the game and in doing so earned a very hard fought win in their first outing of the season, and after relegation from the top flight last season, the hosts have now lost both their games on their return to the second tier.

Full time Bryne 2 Ranheim 3

Right let's see how the other two games went on Sunday:-

Stabaek 4 Asane 0 (Visitors Asane began the season on -1 points after missing the deadline to hand in their accounts, and after two games they are still on that number after suffering a second straight defeat to start the season, conceding four at Nadderud against a Stabaek side who bounced back from their opening day loss.  Jacob Hanstad opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Filip Riise doubled their lead seven minutes before the break, and it was 3-0 at the break courtesy of Magnus Dahlby's goal in first half stoppage time. And Sebastian Olderheim netted a fourth with fifteen minutes to go to complete the win for the home side)

Moss 1 Hodd 0 (Moss have two wins from two after Thomas Jakobsen's 37th minute goal proved enough to defeat Hodd who after winning their opening game come back down the earth in this one, the hosts did finish the game with ten men though after Jamiu Musbadeen was shown a second yellow in stoppage time and sent off, but it made no difference to the outcome ultimately)

The one remaining fixture of the weekend took place on Monday evening, so here is how that fared:-

Raufoss 1 Kongsvinger 3 (Visitors Kongsvinger have been serial play off makers over recent years but cannot seem to get over the line, well they have began this season in fine form and made it two wins from two after seeing off Raufoss who were playing their first game of the new season.  Ludvig Langrekken handed the visitors a second minute lead and then their lead was doubled just before the mid point of the first half when Alexander Achinoti-Jonsson put the ball in his own net, the hosts did pull one back in first half stoppage time courtesy of Eirik Asvestad, but Daniel Job then restored that two goal cushion early in the second period and this proved enough for Kongvinger to take the points, and hand Raufoss, who survived relegation last season by winning a play off, an opening day loss)

Ok, lets now look at how the table shapes up after two rounds (for most teams anyway) of matches.....

Odd lead the way on goal difference and are one off four sides who have won their opening two rounds of fixtures, Odd are looking to return back to the Eliteserien after their relegation in 2024, Kongsvinger will want to go up this year after heartbreak in the playoffs in recent seasons, Haugesund came down last season of course after a terrible season, and Moss were once one of the great sides in Norway, so they have all made a good start. Egersund & Ranheim, both who made the playoffs last year, also have an 100% record but that's after just one game of course.

And Bryne, who of course were relegated from the top flight after just one season last year, Sogndal, Asane & Sandnes Ulf (who came up from the tier below last season) have lost their opening two games, Raufoss & Strommen (the latter also having come up from the second division last season) also have zero points. 

Hinna 5 Stabaek 2s 3 - Hinna win a classic against Stabaek 2s to remain the only side with an 100% record in the Norwegian Norsk Tipping-ligaen avdeling 4 and go two points clear at top of a very early season table

Norsk Tipping-ligaen avdeling 4, Monday 13th April

So, my last week in Norway for this visit, and the week began with another visit to Hinna Stadion, home of Hinna Fotball of course, and this was their first home game of the new season and they were welcoming Stabaek's second team, known as Stabaek 2, they come from the outskirts of the capital Oslo so a fair distance to travel across the entire south of Norway from East to West.

And they were travelling here for their first away outing of the league campaign after losing their opening game of the season at home to Odd 2, a game they also saw Suleiman Mohamed sent off in, so they were hoping neither of these things would happen today against a Hinna side who had won their opening game away at Mandalskameratne 2-1 thanks to a double from Mats Valvatne.

Subsequently Mandalskameratne then thrashed Odd 2 7-1 away from home, so what that says about both todays side who knows, with Hinna winning there and Stabaek losing to Odd, the home side probably felt they were favourites to make it two wins from two to open their season, but football isn't played on paper so Stabaek no doubt just wanted to get at least a point on the board and get their season going.

This game was the final fixture in the second round of games in the Norsk Tipping-ligean avdeling 4, which is the fourth tier in Norway, and this was the fourth section of the third divisions which are split into six sections which are kind of regionalised, as you will find in many tiers below this level too, and of course the third tier is split into two sections as well, it's just how they do it here, some of the journeys would be even more ridiculous than they can be now so it makes sense. More local derbies as well, so all good.

Hinna knew a win would take them two points clear at the top of a very early table, and be the only side to remain with an 100% record if they could do this, and the game looked as good as done inside the opening half hour as the hosts built up a three goal cushion after twenty six minutes, in the 11th minute they grabbed the lead when a long ball was missed by the centre half and allowed Ola Alsaker to run though on goal and slot under keeper Henri Sorlie, and it was two in the 13th minute when Alsaker turned provider, sending in a lovely ball for the aptly named Johannes Hinna to finish first time past Sorlie.

And in the 26th minute it was three, Aldon Sallabegolli curled a lovely pass into the path of Hinna, the ball skipped on and keeper Sorlie got their first but could only hit the ball onto Hinna and the ball then fell perfectly for the striker who rolled the ball into the empty net, the visitors had played some good stuff and had quite a bit of possession but with no end product and coming up against a Hinna side who were ruthless in attack, this was why they trailed by three.

However, in the opening fifteen minutes of the second period, Stabaek found their final third magic, and pulled two goals back in no time at all, firstly when skipper Alfred Lie turned home a cross from the left five minutes into the second half, and then just before the hour mark Marcus Kjos finished off a superb move when seeing his effort from an angle deflect past Sondre Fossa, and it almost looked inevitable that Stabaek would find a leveller.

Hinna rode out that storm though, and restored their two goal cushion to halt the visitors comeback attempt when Sjur Drechsler rose highest to plant a header into the net in the 63rd minute, and then with twenty minutes remaining Mats Gramstad played a ball in and after a first attempt had been blocked and then Hinna somehow hit the post with a second attempt, Mats Valvatne fired his attempt home, and Hinna now had a 5-2 lead and had found their mojo again.

Stabaek to their credit kept to their philosophy of pass and move pass and move, and kept playing the wonderful brand of football they had done throughout the game, ultimately lapses in concentration and being poor in the final third cost them, and Hinna had punished them when chances came along, in the main, the visitors though would net the final goal in this pulsating contest, Casper Bachke getting behind the defence to loft a nice finish over Fossa, but ultimately Hinna did enough to get the job done and remain the only side to have an 100% record after two rounds of fixtures. It had been a belter and one of those games you do not want to end as a neutral, fantastic!!!

Full time Hinna 5 Stabaek 2s 3

So, after two round of action this is how the table looks:-

Hinna then top a very early table after this evening's win, and are the only side too have won their opening two matches, whereas down the bottom Stabaek 2, Brodd & Haugesund 2 are the only sides yet to register a point.

 

Sola 6 Eiger 1 - Goals from Helgevold, Munkvold, Paulsen, Tendenes, Nordtun & Al-Mansoori see Sola bounce back from opening day loss in style after coming from behind to defeat an Eider side who have now started the season with two heavy losses

Norwegian 4. divisjon avdeling 1, Wednesday 8th April

My third game in Norskland for 2026 saw me jump up a couple of levels to the Fourth Division and Section One, the fifth tier in Norway, as Sola hosted Eiger at the Sola Stadion although the game was actually being played on the 3G pitch next to the main stadium for some reason, which is called the SR-Bank Mini Arena, which is basically a 3G facility inside a cage.

It did also mean I'd be right next to the action, the main stadium they normally play at has a running track around it so in that sense playing on the 3G would be better for feeling closer to the action, the action would see two sides coming into their second games of the season having lost their opening matches, Sola were defeated 2-1 at Vardeneset at the end of March whilst Eiger was thrashed 7-1 at home by Vidar 2, a side who have won both their games so far netting twelve in the process.

Sola had been in the Third Division (the Norsk Tipping-ligaen avd. 5) last season until they were relegated, so they were looking to not only bounce back from their opening day loss but also try and get back on track and give themselves a springboard to hopefully a season where they can give themselves a shot at getting back into the next level, although with only the side finishing top having this chance, that would be a tall order.

Eiger themselves had finished 7th out of 12th in this division last season although they had finished way above the relegation play off zone although having conceded 78 goals in their 22 games, this campaign had kind of continued in that vain having conceded seven on the opening day, so they were certainly looking for an improved performance in this contest and hoping to pick up some points too.

Well, it did start well for the visitors who did take the lead on the quarter hour mark and it was helped by some lacklustre defending by the hosts who had started the game slowly, Vetle Jondal stole the ball of a defender before passing to Aleksander Kjellmann, he then returned the ball to Jondal before he curled a lovely effort into the far corner despite home keeper Sverre Joa getting a hand to it.

However, that was as good as it was going to get for the visitors, it only took the hosts seven minutes to level proceedings as going behind seemed to wake them up somewhat, playmaker Rolf Hesby sent a threw ball into the path of Erik Helgevold and the latter sent the ball beyond visiting keeper Fabian Andersen who also got a touch on the way but was unable to stop it from finding the net.

And thereafter in the first forty five minutes Sola were the ones looking most likely to go in front, skipper Benjamin Munkvold fired a rocket of a free kick from miles out which glanced off the bar, and then late in the half the ball fell to Hesby who somehow struck his close range effort against the post, meaning the game was locked at 1-1 heading into the break.

The opening exchanges of the second period saw both sides trying to gain the upper hand, but you always felt Sola were going to get in front at some point, and midway through the half they finally managed to get their noses in front, Hesby giving the ball to Monkvold to fire an unstoppable effort from outside the box beyond the dive of Andersen into the bottom corner.

And with fifthteen minutes remaining Sola increased their lead and it was another crisp strike, this time from Edvin Paulsen, firing a rocket into the bottom corner, before they added a fourth goal in the 86th minute as a long ball from the back by centre half Dennis Zhilivoda was chested down by Hesby into the path of Endre Tendenes who fired home beyond Andersen.

A rampant hosts then added two more in stoppage time to cap off a fine evening, a lovely cross from Munkvold was perfect for Jonas Nordtun to head home at the back post, and with the final action of the half they made it six when Hesby, who was involved in everything positive for the home side, laid a ball off to Yousif Al-Mansoori before the substitute cut into his left foot and fired a powerful effort beyond Andersen and into the net.

A great way for Sola to bounce back from their opening day defeat then, and turning their goal difference from a small negative to a larger positive, as for Eiger though that's two losses in two and thirteen goals conceded, a very tough start for them for sure.

Full time Sola 6 Eiger 1

There were no other games in the division this evening, but let's take a quick look at the table after this evenings result in Sola:-

The result actually sees Sola go up to third in the standings after improving their goal difference as well as getting points on the board, whilst Eiger remain at the foot of the division due to their poor goal difference which got even worse after this evenings loss, early days though as said in all these Norwegian blogs thus far.