Oslo was the next destination for match two of the holiday. The Eliteserien game featured Oslo's only club, Valerenga against nearby rivals Stromsgodset. Valerenga came into the struggling having also lost at home just three days earlier. I had arrived in Oslo the previous day and found my hotel. The morning of the game I went for a tour around Oslo's tourist spots taking in the nobel peace centre and theatre. As soon as that was over it was on to football and I made my way up to the Ulleval stadion early to get a tour of the venue.
The tour was amazing with everything from past international matches to archives on newspaper articles the football musuem was simple awesome. The football shop within the Ulleval stadion complex was spectacular also to say the least. I availed of the opportunity to purchase Valerenga and Rosenborg shirts while also managing to get AIK and Fenerbahce. The selection was unreal with all top flight Norweigen sides to choose from, the Norway national side, and clubs sides that ranged from Shakhtar Donetsk to the Orlando Pirates.
The game kicked off at 18:00 which was becoming the usual kick off time. Both sides attacked with some noteable players standing out. For the hosts I was impressed with the central midfielder Hermeet Singh. His passing was unlocking the opposition while winger Fellah was cutting them apart with his pace and trickery. The visitors worked well with their winger Alfred Sankoh impressing.
The impressive stadium was only about half-full with the majority being Valerenga fans and the 500-800 Stromsgodset supporters. Valerenga started the better in the early stages with chances being created by Hermeet Singh. Hermeet Singh was inevitably involved in the creation of the games opening goal when he played through Fengor Ogude who slotted past the on rushing Adam Larsen right in front of the visiting fans.
Stromsgodset did put up a good fight to their hosts. They fashioned out some chances with Sankoh especially. His mazy runs were often ended with huge checks but he got his just reward when on the stroke of half time he headed Stromsgodset level. An inch-perfect cross that met Sankoh gave Lars Hirschfeld absolutely no chance.
The 2nd half saw Sankoh go off and replaced by another player who impressed during the 2nd half, Jo Berget. Berget, a centre forward kept the Valerenga defense on their toes for much of the 2nd half. Chances went by almost every minute. However the feeling of another goal grew when both sides had shots cleared off the line. Yousef Koné, formally of Rosenborg and CFR Cluj was bought on and he was to make a big impact. His presence made Stromsgodset weak and with just two minutes to go he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to stab home to give Valerenga a 2-1 lead. Mohammed Keita was introduced for the visitors immedietely after the goal was scored. Stromsgodset piled forward in search of a goal.
That goal arrived in style in the final minute of stoppage time. A cross from the left hand side was not cleared proberly by Valerenga and the ball fell kindly to Mohammed Keita, unmarked and he lashed a half-volley into the top corner past Hirschfeld to make it 2-2. The goal was scored in front of the visiting fans, who went bonkers over what they had just witnessed.
Afterward I made my way back to the hotel but did end up going on a stroll around the city which was nice taking in the atmosphere that was still hoping despite their team dropping points. The quality on show in the game though was of a higher standard than the Superettan, which was to be expected but the individual talents on show were also interesting. This game featured two sides with outside chances of making a European spot so it begged the question would the likes of table topping Tromso or Molde have more quality and what of Rosenborg?
The impressive stadium was only about half-full with the majority being Valerenga fans and the 500-800 Stromsgodset supporters. Valerenga started the better in the early stages with chances being created by Hermeet Singh. Hermeet Singh was inevitably involved in the creation of the games opening goal when he played through Fengor Ogude who slotted past the on rushing Adam Larsen right in front of the visiting fans.
Stromsgodset did put up a good fight to their hosts. They fashioned out some chances with Sankoh especially. His mazy runs were often ended with huge checks but he got his just reward when on the stroke of half time he headed Stromsgodset level. An inch-perfect cross that met Sankoh gave Lars Hirschfeld absolutely no chance.
The 2nd half saw Sankoh go off and replaced by another player who impressed during the 2nd half, Jo Berget. Berget, a centre forward kept the Valerenga defense on their toes for much of the 2nd half. Chances went by almost every minute. However the feeling of another goal grew when both sides had shots cleared off the line. Yousef Koné, formally of Rosenborg and CFR Cluj was bought on and he was to make a big impact. His presence made Stromsgodset weak and with just two minutes to go he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to stab home to give Valerenga a 2-1 lead. Mohammed Keita was introduced for the visitors immedietely after the goal was scored. Stromsgodset piled forward in search of a goal.
That goal arrived in style in the final minute of stoppage time. A cross from the left hand side was not cleared proberly by Valerenga and the ball fell kindly to Mohammed Keita, unmarked and he lashed a half-volley into the top corner past Hirschfeld to make it 2-2. The goal was scored in front of the visiting fans, who went bonkers over what they had just witnessed.
Afterward I made my way back to the hotel but did end up going on a stroll around the city which was nice taking in the atmosphere that was still hoping despite their team dropping points. The quality on show in the game though was of a higher standard than the Superettan, which was to be expected but the individual talents on show were also interesting. This game featured two sides with outside chances of making a European spot so it begged the question would the likes of table topping Tromso or Molde have more quality and what of Rosenborg?
No comments:
Post a Comment