Last week’s results left Molde with one hand on the Eliteserien title. Despite some of the scintillating football the top teams have played this season, the relegation battle looks set to provide serious entertainment down the home stretch and could be worth keeping an eye on for fantasy purposes as teams fight against the drop.
Lillestrøm vs. Vålerenga
Marko Maric was busy at Marienlyst, making seven saves to keep Lillestrøm in the game against Strømsgodset. His 83 saves rank second among all goalkeepers this season. Godset were good value for their lead, but Thomas Lehne Olsen is hard to keep quiet, especially when he’s set up by a brilliant pass from Ifeanyi Mathew, the midfielder with his first attacking contribution since returning from a loan spell in Turkey.
Vålerenga got off to a sluggish start against Stabæk on their way to 11 games without a win. Adam Larsen Kwarasey was unable to parry a low shot away from danger and a midfield mixup by Mohammed Abu and Magnus Lekven led to the second goal after a quarter of an hour. Matthias Vilhjalmsson headed a good chance over the bar and Abu saw a shot tipped onto post. Aron Dønnum saw a second yellow for a challenge from behind. Just how bad can it get? With five games remaining, Vålerenga are five points clear of the relegation playoff.
FK Haugesund vs. Strømsgodset
Seven points clear of the relegation playoff place, Haugesund should have enough to avoid a relegation battle in the final stretch of the season. Although Pascal Gregor diverted Christian Grindheim’s header in for equaliser, Haugesund eventually succumbed to Molde’s attacking quality last time out.
Lars-Jørgen Salvesen couldn’t score in the draw with Lillestrøm, despite forcing a save with a header and hitting the post. Salvesen at least showed good hold up play as Godset opened the scoring, allowing Herman Stengel to send Moses Mawa clean through on goal. Godset could have moved within a point of LSK in the table, but gave away a late goal to remain in the drop zone.
Kristiansund BK vs. Viking FK
Kristiansund aren’t “on the beach” yet, as they twice fought back to draw with Rosenborg. Sondre Sørli chested the ball into the path of Torgil Gjertsen who struck the first equaliser. Vigilant fantasy managers who noticed Christophe Psyche named on the bench and left him out of their own sides were punished as the centre back came on to make it 2-2 with a header from a yard out. Christoffer Aasbak’s set pieces are often dangerous, but in this instance Olav Oby claimed the assist as he flicked the ball on to Psyche.
Viking remain in the hunt for a European place after beating Tromsø. Zlatko Tripic cut in from the right and found Samuel Kari Fridjonsson who left the keeper with no chance. Adrian Nilsen Pereira remains easy on the budget and having started all but one of Viking’s last 11 games, he got his fourth attacking return in that time by setting up Fredrik Torsteinbø.
Mjøndalen vs. Sarpsborg 08
Bodø/Glimt had the better chances, but Mjøndalen picked up what could be a vital point at Aspmyra. The visitors’ best chance came from a Joachim Olsen Solberg free kick, with Alexander Hansen’s header forcing a save.
Alexandre Letellier was at fault for Brann’s goal in the 1-1 draw, misjudging what looked a routine save. It was inevitable that Amin Askar would be involved in the equaliser against his former club. After failing to connect with a cross and having a goal ruled out, Askar set up Kyle Lafferty’s first Sarpsborg goal to secure an eighth draw in 13 home fixtures.
Stabæk vs. Odd
Stabæk delivered a tidy performance to heap misery on Vålerenga. Sammy Skytte followed up his own saved shot to score. Luc Kassi was involved in the buildup to that opening goal and soon got on the scoresheet himself, heading in after Daniel Braaten showed patience to create the chance. Marcus Sandberg and co rewarded their fantasy owners with a third consecutive clean sheet.
Any lingering title hopes Odd may have had are surely out the window as Ranheim ran out deserving winners last week. Torgeir Børven got his customary goal, heading in from a Fredrik Nordkvelle corner. Espen Ruud was absent through injury and is expected to miss the trip to Stabæk.
Tromsø vs. Ranheim
Fitim Azemi turned provider late on against Viking, setting up Jostein Gundersen to head in a consolation goal. A yellow card means Simen Wangberg is suspended for this relegation clash; Tromsø haven’t earned a clean sheet without the skipper this season.
Ranheim arrested a seven game winless run by emphatically beating Odd. Daniel Kvande opened the scoring from Øyvind Storflor’s corner. After Odd’s equaliser, Mushaga Bakenga squared for Jørgen Olsen Øveraas to restore the lead. Mads Reginiussen showed off his quality to control a high ball and backheel it to Michael Karlsen who scored with a snapshot. Karlsen scored again to wrap up the scoring in stunning fashion, controlling Even Barli’s goal kick and firing a swerving half-volley from over 40 yards. Karlsen hasn’t completed 90 minutes since GW7, but is still Ranheim’s top scorer this campaign with six goals.
Rosenborg vs. Molde
Vegar Eggen Hedenstad delivered another pair of assists in the draw at Kristiansund. The first slightly fortunate, as David Akintola had plenty to do after collecting the ball on the right wing but wriggled through the defence. The second was a dangerous low delivery to the near post, turned in by Bjørn Johnsen. Despite Tore Reginiussen’s return, Rosenborg’s defence was unconvincing and they could have lost even after conceding a late equaliser. In the Europa League, a 1-0 loss at Sporting left them well adrift at the bottom of group D.
With Magnus Wolff Eikrem a doubt once against and Eirik Hestad suspended after picking up a yellow card against Haugesund, Etzaz Hussain gave Erling Moe and fantasy managers food for thought. Hussain headed in a Fredrik Aursnes free kick and, after Haugesund’s equaliser, restored the lead from close range. Kristoffer Haugen made the difference in the second half, showing determination to set up Hussain’s second and sending in an early cross that found its way to Ohi, who made it 3-1.
Brann vs. Bodø/Glimt
Brann’s 1-1 at Sarpsborg was their fourth draw in a row. They got on the scoresheet for the first time in that period, but it wasn’t much to shout about; Taijo Teniste’s shot squirmed through the keeper, Gilli Rolantsson claimed the assist. Håkon Opdal’s blushes were spared by the offside flag and although he couldn’t keep another clean sheet, he featured amongst the bonus points for the fifth time in 2019. Brann’s attacking struggles have been well documented but their defence has looked better of late, although they’ll be without the suspended Bismar Acosta this week.
Like Brann, Bodø/Glimt have drawn four of their last six league games. The dismantling of Tromsø aside, they’ve missed Amor Layouni and played out another goalless draw against Mjøndalen. Victor Boniface made his first Eliteserien start and did enough to catch the eye of the man in the stands by hitting the post, shooting over from close range and forcing a save with a header. Vegard Bergan threatened from corners and Håkon Evjen put in another tidy display. With a tricky schedule ahead, the title could be out of reach by the time Glimt visit Molde on the final day.
