UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round 1st Leg, Thursday 24th July
My latest game in Norway saw me back at the Lyse Arena in Stavanger for my first ever UEFA Conference League tie, and it saw Eliteserien leaders Viking taking on Koper who are from Slovenia and play in their top division, the PrvaLiga.
Obviously I know plenty about the hosts, I saw them lose an epic contest at the weekend against Bodo/Glimt as their grip on top spot and the championship was weakened slightly more as a result, and I have watched them several times over the years, however, to say I didn't know much, if anything, about Koper, that would be an understatement.
Before this game was announced (Viking won a bye into the Second Qualifying Round) and their opponents were battling out a first qualifying round tie against Bosnia & Herzegovina's Željezničar, I had never heard of them, or their opponents in that tie, so once I knew of Viking's opponent, I had to quickly read up about them!!!
They have had quite a last decade and a half let's say, twice nearly going to the wall due to financial issues, the latest one seeing them lose their licence for the 2016-17 PrvaLiga season, meaning relegation to the fourth tier, before they worked their way back up and managed to qualify for this seasons Conference League, some achievement that!!!
Viking in stark contrast have been one of the most successful teams in Norway in their time, not so much recently I hasten to add, but they have had a good couple of seasons before this one and were on course for another European spot this campaign, although they wanted the league title seeing as they currently lead the way, but this game was all about getting themselves into a decent position heading into next weeks 2nd Leg in Slovenia and European Football.
Viking were heavy favourites to win this tie against a side with very little European experience, and it looked likely to be a straightforward evening for them when they took the lead after just six minutes, Sander Svendsen sweeping home into the bottom corner after a pass from English born New Zealand international Joe Bell, the hosts had started right on the front foot and threatened to blow their opponents away.
But after that initial burst from the hosts, their opponents started to settle and gain in confidence, coupled with some sloppy play from their hosts, the visitors did have chances to equalise, one effort dipping and glancing off the crossbar, it was a warning to Viking that if they didn't take their opponents seriously then they would be embarrassed, and at half time with the scoreline just 1-0, the visitors and their seven, yes seven away supporters, would have been more the happier of the two sides.
It appeared that the second half may be as tight, Koper struck a good effort into the side netting early on in the half, but with eleven minutes of the second period gone, Viking netted a crucial second goal, Joe Bell was involved again, giving the ball to Anders Bærtelsen who fired an effort at goal from long range which Koper keeper Metod Jurhar totally misjudged and ended up diving forward and past the ball, which duly sailed past him and into the net.
And with the home fans still celebrating that goal, they were celebrating again just two minutes later when skipper Zlatko Tripic fired a ball across goal for Svendsen to apply the final touch for his second and Viking's third, and now the hosts were in cruise control as the visitors seemed to be falling apart at the back and in danger of being overrun.
Another nine minutes elapsed before Viking added another goal in the 68th minute to make it 4-0, Tripic this time turner goal scorer by seeing his effort deflect beyond Jurhar, and then the hosts won a penalty with twelve minutes to go and this was emphatically dispatched by Hilmar Rafn Mikaelsson as Viking were now running away with it and it was now a case of how many.
Mikaelsson added another for himself and Viking's sixth goal with five minutes to go, Simen Kvia-Egeskog teeing him up to fire a powerful effort beyond Jurhar, and their seventh and final goal came in stoppage time when Vetie Auklend crossed to the far post where Sondre Bjørshol was on hand to send a downward header back across goal and into the far corner, capping a wonderful final thirty five minutes for the hosts.
Koper had given it a fine go, and for around an hour were right in this game, but they fell away badly in the final half hour or so and were soundly beaten in the end, making the second leg next week in Slovenia rather academic, a great result for the hosts though and a boost in morale after a difficult couple of weeks in the league.
Full time Viking 7 Koper 0
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