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.
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