RECAP: WEEKEND NORWEGIAN ACTION Monday, August 11, 2008
Disappointment for Tory Perkins and Vålerenga, while Clarence Goodson's Start came out on top against Jay Needham's Alta in this weekend's Norwegian Action..
Ham Kam 1 - 1 Vålerenga
Troy Perkins and his Vålerenga team were optimistic going into this away game against HamKam, but a battling display from the hosts earned them a draw.
Vålerenga took the lead after 43 minutes when striker Bengt Sæternes was hauled down in the box by HamKam keeper Jon Masalin and the referee had no choice but to award the penalty. Jarl-André Storbæk stepped up and made no mistake from the spot.
The game was a cagey affair with few clear-cut chances either way, but in the 75th minute HamKam got their equalizer. Perkins came off his line to claim a cross but was beaten to the ball by HamKam striker Oluwasegun Abiodun. The Nigerian's shot was blocked into the path of midfielder Tommy Øren who hammered the ball home from just inside the penalty-box.
Troy Perkins started the game for Vålerenga, and apart from the goal he had a quiet afternoon.
A draw was a disappointing result for Vålerenga who are still stuck in no-mans land in the standings. They'll be desperate to get three points on the board next weekend when they host Bodø/Glimt.
Alta If 1 - 2 Start
Clarence Goodson's Start came out on top of their encounter with Jay Needham's Alta, but the promotion hopefuls really had to work for their win.
Northern minnows Alta took an early lead after just seven minutes through their top-scorer Vegard Braaten, but Start hit back with two goals in ten minutes right after half-time with Leif Otto Paulsen and Bernt Hulsker getting on the score sheet for the visitors.
Both Jay Needham and Clarence Goodson played the full 90 minutes of what was at times a foul-tempered affair.
The win means Start are still second in the standings, while Alta are just a point ahead of the relegation-zone in 14th. Next up for the Northerners is a visit to Haugesund, while Start take on Sparta Sarpsborg at home.
Odd Grenland 1 - 1 FK Haugesund
Resolute defending and some stellar goalkeeping earned Cam Weaver's Haugesund a surprise draw away to the Adeccoligaen's runaway leaders Odd Grenland.
Haugesund shocked the home-crowd after 12 minutes when they took the lead through Djedje Victorien. Although Odd dominated possession and created a lot of chances they needed a dubious-looking penalty to get past an outstanding Beau Molenaar in the Hauesgund goal. With 68 minutes on the clock an Odd corner, which should have been a goal-kick, struck the arm of a Haugesund-defender and Odd's captain Morten Fevang converted the penalty.
Cam Weaver played the full 90 minutes, but struggled against Odd's sturdy and well-organized defense.
Next up for Haugesund are Jay Needham's Alta.
Notodden 7 - 0 Bryne
One of the worst defensive displays in recent memory ensured that Chris Rodd and Bryne were thoroughly humiliated by Notodden.
The visitors showed a peculiar aversion to the concept of marking opponents, and were duly punished by a rampant home-team. Four goals from Abdurahim Laajaab, two from Fabian Taylor and one from Trond Viggo Toresen gave the home-crowd plenty to celebrate, while Bryne will want to forget this game as quickly as possible.
Chris Rodd played the full 90 minutes for Bryne but will, like every other player in Bryne's back four, be worried about keeping his place in the team after that performance.
Next week Bryne take on fourth-placed Hønefoss at home.
Notes
Adin Brown is lost for the season while Mikkel Diskerud did not feature as Stabaek defeated Aalesund 2-1.
Kyle Veris was on the bench as Hødd suffered another defeat, this time it was 2-0 at home against Sandefjord.
Brian West was not on the roster as Fredrikstad defeated Tromsø with a 2-0 scoreline.
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