PREVIEW: WEEKEND NORWEGIAN ACTION Arch Bell - Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tyrel Lacey and Lyn look to take down first place and undefeated Rosenborg while Troy Perkins and Valerenga hunt for their first league win in months.
Rosenborg - Lyn
It is David vs. Goliath this Monday at Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim as Tyrel Lacey and Lyn travel to Eliteserien leaders Rosenborg.
After a successful professional league debut last weekend versus Start, goalkeeper Lacey will once again man the pipes for head coach Gunnar Halle.
The task ahead for Lyn is a monumental one as Rosenborg have yet to be beaten this season in league play.
The visitors' last place position is a deceiving one as Lyn have actually been a defensively solid squad all season long.
Lacey and company have more draws than losses on the campaign and the club's back line have allowed more than two goals in a game just three times this year.
Rosenborg head coach Erik Hamren's team is one that gets the job on both ends of the field with 43 goals scored and just 15 given up.
Halle will be without defender Thomas Jacobsen due to injury while Hamren will have access to his entire roster.
Valerenga - Molde
Troy Perkins and Valerenga will set out to break their seven league game losing streak when they host Molde on Saturday at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.
Perkins will take his usual starting spot at goalkeeper in player/coach Martin Andresen's starting 11 while Molde's Brian Waltrip will not be suiting up.
After starting the season in the upper echelon of the Eliteserien with hopes of claiming another spot in European play, Valerenga's fall has turned the club's thoughts to avoiding relegation to the 1. Division.
As the losses have mounted, so have the injuries with Andersen himself sidelined with a calf injury, in addition to Andre Muri and Erik Hagen.
Molde's recent defeat to Viking left the club seven points behind leaders Rosenborg so the chances for a league title for head coach Kjell Jonevret have grown slimmer.
The visitors boast one of the most potent offenses in the league with 49 goals on the books including the seven goal barrage against Start earlier this month.
Jonevret will also be able to count on a full squad.
Start - Brann
For the second time this month, Start hope to pick up the pieces following a bad loss and secure three points at home versus Brann on Sunday at Sor Arena in Kristiansand.
Clarence Goodson will likely be slotted into head coach Knut Torum's starting back line while compatriot Hunter Freeman will have to sit this one out due to suspension.
Goodson recently received the good news that he will join up with the US national team for its upcoming World Cup qualifier on September 5th against El Salvador.
Following their six goal loss to Molde earlier this month, Torum's squad was able to respond with a solid 1-0 victory the next weekend versus Fredrikstad.
Now after coming off a 4-1 loss to cellar dwellers Lyn, the head man will once again try to get his team up to put last week's embarassment behind them and claim three points.
There is still plenty to play for in the Start camp with the team sitting just three points away from a berth in Europe next year.
Their foes from Brann are in a similar situation sitting just one point ahead of Start in the Eliteserien standings.
Brann's attack is led by Erik Huselkepp who has 11 goals on the campaign.
The visitors have issues of their own as head coach Steinar Nilsen's squad is dinged with injuries as Hakon Opdal, Kristian Flittie Onstad and Rodolph Austin are all out for Sunday's encounter.
The only absence for Sorum will be Costa Rican forward Cristian Bolanos who is out due to suspension from a nasty red card in last week's loss to Lyn.
Kongsvinger - Alta
A visit to third place Kongsvinger awaits Jay Needham and Alta on Tuesday at Gjemselund Stadion in Kongsvinger.
Captain Needham will take the field in head coach Aasmund Bjorkman's starting 11, however it is still unclear if Bjorkman will slot the Texas native at central midfielder or drop him back to anchor the Alta defense.
The head man has used Needham in a variety of ways this season but with Kongsvinger being amore defensive-minded club, it would stand to reason that Needham's best use will be in the midfield to create goal scoring opportunities for Vegard Braaten who has 14 league goals on the season.
With 10 matches remaining in the season, Alta are fifth with 29 points and currently claim the last spot in the 1. Division promotion playoffs.
Despite this advantageous position, Needham and company are just five points from facing a relegation playoff making for a very competititve final push.
Kongsvinger head coach Tom Nordlie's squad come into the match with plenty at stake sitting just two points behind second place Sogndal in the race for automatic promotion to the Eliteserien.
Both Nordlie and Bjorkman will be able to count on full squads.
Notes
Adin Brown will likely be a backup goalkeeper on Sunday for Aalesund's home match versus Bodo/Glimt.
Mikkel Diskerud will hope to see some second half minutes as Stabaek take on Lillestrom.
Mattew Allen will start from the bench as Sandefjord travel to Viking on Sunday.
After being recently relegated to the bench by Nybergsund head coach Ola Brenden, Connor Tobin will start Sunday's match versus Sarpsborg on the sidelines but may be included as a second half substitute.
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