Norwegian Obosligaen, Saturday 3rd August
My final game in Norway on this trip before I return on Wednesday saw me over at the Oster Hus Arena in Sandnes to watch the hosts Sandnes Ulf see if they could try and grab only a third win of the season to try and close the gap to safety and fourth bottom Asane who were only four points above their opponents having played a game more, so this was a very important game for both.
Sandnes have only picked up ten points in their fifteen league games thus far, one of those came last weekend when they drew 1-1 at local rivals Bryne (a game I attended, here is that blog if your interested https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2024/07/bryne-1-sandnes-ulf-1-sandnes-claimed.html) but they failed to build on that encouraging point in midweek when they were beaten 3-0 at Stabaek.
In fact four of those ten points have come against Bryne, they beat them at home 2-1 back on May 16th, which was their last win in what has been a pretty awful season league wise, although that point last weekend had at least got them off the bottom of the table, and if they could pick up a rare win today against one of their relegation rivals then things would begin to look promising.
Asane though would be a tough nut to crack, despite their lowly league position, they managed a goalless draw last time out against Raufoss, and although they were beaten by Lyn & Moss, two sides who are pressing for promotion, they did thrash Kongsvinger 5-0 away in what was an extraordinary result considering they were in a play off spot, add to that close games against other promotion hopefuls Bryne & Egersund, both 1-0 away losses, suggested they were certainly competitive against the better sides.
And before all of those games they had edged past today's opponents 1-0 up in Asane at their Asane Arena thanks to a solitary strike from skipper Kristoffer Barmen midway through the first period, so the visitors at least had better form to an extent coming into this one, so the hosts knew they could not let them win this one and extend that gap.
Sandnes could easily have lead at the break as well, Haris Brkic had a great chance from twelve or so yards out but somehow put his effort wide, Brkic was instrumental in most of the hosts attacking play during the opening forty five minutes so it was a surprise when he did miss his opportunity, their was also a decent chance for Erik Berland but he saw a left footed effort well saved by Simen Kjellevold in the visitors goal.
Asane did also have their moments too in a goalless first period, but you felt that Sandnes had certainly edged the half in terms of chances but they were unable to take them when they came their way, which probably suggests why they are in trouble down at the bottom of the table, and the second period saw both sides have openings too but neither side could find that killer instinct in the final third when they got an opportunity.
So heading into the final twenty minutes the game was in the balance, but another reason why the hosts are were they are in the league is because they then shot themselves in the foot twice in five minutes to affectively end this contest, firstly Sandnes keeper Serigne Mbaye struck a goal kick straight to the visitors who then drove back towards their goal before a ball laid through to Sebastian Haugland who rifled a lovely finish past Mbayne to send their ten supporters behind that goal wild!!!
A secondly and just five minutes later it was 2-0 to the visitors just like that, and this time it was even more of a gift from the home side, a long ball forward saw home centre half Gullbrandur Oregaard chase back with Asane attacker Sander Strand in pursuit, but what should have been an easy ball to deal with by the hosts turned out to be anything but, as miscommunication between Oregaard and keeper Mbaye resulted in the defender sticking out a boot to direct the ball away from Mbaye who appeared to be about to field to ball.
This meant the ball was put straight into the path of Strand who despite Oregaard trying desperately to take the attacker out placed the ball into the empty net to give the visitors a two goal cushion from nowhere and Sandnes now had it all to do heading into the final part of the game.
It had certainly taken the wind out of the hosts support that had come to watch this one, and it was a blow that Sandnes never recovered from as with a minute of the ninety to go, Asane attacked down the left through Strand and he played a cross into the box where Steffen Skalevik got across his marker to plant a header beyond Mbaye, and end the contest once and for all.
A huge win for Asane then who now move five points clear the the two automatic relegation places and three ahead of the relegation play off position, and their celebrations afterwards certainly suggested this was a big one too, and looking at the reaction of the home players and fans you could tell they knew this was a disastrous day as results elsewhere meant they sunk to the foot of the table once again and now are four points off third bottom and six off fourth bottom (third bottom being the relegation play off spot).
Their next two games are against the sides immediately above them (Mjondalen & then Aalesund) so Sandnes know they must take at least four points from those two games if they are to give themselves a chance to climb out of the problems they find themselves in, although the reaction and body language from players and fans alike after this one seemed to suggest they feel they may already be doomed.
Full time Sandnes Ulf 0 Asane 3
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