PREVIEW: WEEKEND NORWEGIAN ACTION Arch Bell - Thursday, September 17, 2009
An Oslo derby between Lyn and Valerenga highlights this weekend's action in the Eliteserien as goalkeepers Tyrel Lacey and Troy Perkins hope to keep clean sheets while Jay Needham and Alta host last place Skeid.
Valerenga - Lyn
There should be plenty of drama on Sunday afternoon at Ullevaal Stadion when Tyrel Lacey and Lyn face crosstown rivals Troy Perkins and Valerenga.
Lacey will be suiting up as the starting goalkeeper for last place Lyn who have been battling off-the-field distractions all week.
Head coach Gunnar Halle's young squad was recently informed that the club might have to file for bankruptcy should financial obligations not be met by the end of the month.
The news of Lyn's possible folding quickly spread through the capital city and led to a local priest and Valerenga supporter to stage a mock funeral of their crosstown rivals.
Church officials later apologized for the incident but the event has only fanned the flames of what could be a very tense encounter.
Valerenga starting goalkeeper Troy Perkins has also come under criticism from fans and media for his poor play in last week's defeat against Fredrikstad. That aside, Valerenga player/coach Martin Andresen still plans to slot Perkins in his starting 11 on Sunday.
André Muri will not be available for Andresen while Luton Shelton and Bojan Zajic are still doubtful with groin and ankle injuries respectively.
Halle will continue to be without defender Thomas Jacobsen who is out with an injury.
Start - Viking
The American defensive duo of Hunter Freeman and Clarence Goodson returns to action for Start who are back at the friendly confines of Sor Arena to face Viking on Monday in Kristiansand.
Freeman and Goodson will take their normal starting positions in head coach Knut Torum's back line against a very well-balanced Viking club.
Start managed to break their spell of bad luck on the road when they snagged a late point versus Bodo/Glimt courtesy of teenager Rolf Daniel Vikstřl 86th minute strike helping keep their European aspirations in tact.
Torum's squad sit in sixth place with 33 points in the Eliteserien, just one point ahead of Sunday's visitors who are coming off a one goal draw with Brann.
Viking are directed by head coach Uwe Rösler who will be looking toward leading scorer midfielder Birkir Bjarnason to spearhead the offensive attack.
Ole Martin Ĺrst and Knut Henry Haraldsen will not be available for Sorum while Rösler will have a full squad.
Alta - Skeid
Sunday should provide a very good opportunity for Jay Needham and Alta to pick up three points when they return home to face cellar dweller Skeid in 1. Division action at Finnmarkshallen Arena in Alta.
The trend of late has been for Alta head coach Aasmund Bjorkman to slot Needham at central midfielder and this weekend should be no exception.
After grabbing a crucial point last weekend on the road at fifth place Sarpsborg, Needham and crew now are in a position to earn nine points in their next three matches as they are scheduled to face three of the bottom four teams in the league.
The native Texan and team captain scored his second goal of the season last week to help equalize the match and more offensive opportunities could be in store against Skeid who have given up a whopping 48 goals on the season.
Alta are two points behind their foes from last week in the race to claim the last promotion playoff position as Sarpsborg travel to 15th place Stavanger this weekend.
Jan Tommy Haugli's thigh strain is the only reported injury for Bjorkman's squad while Skeid head man Arild Stavrum will have a full squad at his disposal.
Notes
Mikkel Diskerud will be in Cyprus training with the US Under-20 team and will not be making the trip with Stabaek to Odd on Saturday.
Matthew Allen will take his usual spot on the bench as the reserve goalkeeper for Sandefjord who face first place and undefeated Rosenborg on Sunday.
Adin Brown will likely be designated as the backup goalkeeper for Aalesund's home encounter versus Brann.
Brian Waltrip will not be suiting up for Molde who travel to Tromso.
Connor Tobin will hope to get some minutes as a second half substitute for Nybergsund who host Notodden.
As always, great work. You have done an outstanding job of going past minutes played and games stats to give us the real flavor of Norwegian football. Thanks for your diligent work.
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