Norsk Tipping-ligean Avd.5, Saturday 26th July
Today's Fourth Tier matchup from the 3rd Division Avd.5 saw me take the 45 minute bus ride from Tananger to Sandnes to see if bottom side Sandnes Ulf 2 could win for the first time in several weeks and upset a Djerv 1919 side who were in good form themselves and on a five match unbeaten run in the league, and three wins on the spin too.
Sandnes Ulf 2, basically there reserves, themselves were bottom with only seven points from twelve games, and had lost nine of those too and hadn't win since early May, that's a seven match winless run where they have only picked up one point in that time, and find themselves in a heap of trouble down at the foot of the division as a result.
They do at least have a wonderful arena to play in, the Oster Hus Arena was built a few years ago when the first team were in the Eliteserien, however, things have gone south for them as well as they now play in the Post Nord-ligean Avd.1, which is the third tier, so only one level above their second team, however they do seem to be on course to be promoted back to the second tier at the first time of asking, but it's not been a good two or three years for the club.
As said the second team who I was watching today could easily be three levels below their first XI side next season if things don't improve, Djerv themselves were looking to jump up a number of places in the division if they could continue their good form of late, they were eighth at kick off but could rise to as high as third with a win, such is the tight nature of the table between 3rd place and 9th place, which was just three points.
The game certainly seemed to be going to form as well in the early exchanges as Djerv were doing most of the attacking, they thought they had taken the lead inside five minutes when a shot from Mads Johannesen struck the inside of the post was followed in by Havard Hovland but the flag had gone up for offside, but in the 19th minute they were to break the deadlock.
They won a free kick just outside the box on the right hand side, and Eric Ndayisenga duly curled a lovely free kick around the wall and in at the near post, giving hosts keeper Eivind Hagen no chance, and the visitors had a deserved lead and you felt they may go on and win this one comfortably.
Fair play to Sandnes though they fought back well after being outplayed for a good twenty five minutes or so, and as the half went on they grew more and more into the contest, and with six minutes of the half to go they found a leveller when a ball in from Harun Barise found Daniel Helle in the box, and he did eventually managed to fire home from close range and send the teams into the break all square.
The game was certainly in the balance in the early exchanges of the second period, but just beyond the hour mark came a moment of magic from visiting substitute and full back Wilson Niyonzima, a ball sent in from the right found it's way into his path, and from an acute angle he sent a wonderful looping volley back across goal and into the far corner, the celebrations told you everything, at how good a goal it was and also how important it was for the visitors who knew they were in a game and had worked hard to get their noses in front again.
Could Sandnes respond again, well they tried their hardest but were unable to, and with seven minutes left Djerv won a free kick just outside the box on the right hand side again, Ndayisenga territory (he had seen one earlier in half brilliantly saved by Hagen) and this time he repeated the trick of curling it around the wall and in at the near post, two out of three isn't bad going, and an identical goal to his first too.
Ndayisenga had been the standout player of the game for sure, he could have had more had it not been for keeper Hagen, but he was involved with pretty much everything the visitors came up with, he was for sure my MOTM and no doubt others too who were at the game, it had been hard fought but Djerv took the points against a spirited hosts, sending them up to fourth in the standings.
For Sandnes it's another defeat although they could take plenty of positives from this performance, they certainly made the visitors work hard for their win but it leaves them five points from safety albeit with plenty of games to go, but they will have to turn their fortunes around very soon if they are to get themselves out of trouble. Another good watch though for the spectators who witnessed this contest.
Full time Sandnes Ulf 2 1 Djerv 1919 3
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