PREVIEW: WEEKEND NORWEGIAN ACTION Arch Bell - Thursday, September 24, 2009
Hunter Freeman and Clarence Goodson will look to give Start a late season push versus Sandefjord while Tyrel Lacey and Lyn may be playing their final match of the year at home against Tromso.
Sandefjord - Start
The chances are growing fewer to make a run at next year's Europa League for Start's American defensive duo who hit the road on Sunday to take on Sandefjord at Komplett.no Arena in Sandefjord.
Hunter Freeman and Clarence Goodson will asume their normal starting positions in head coach Knut Torum's back line while Matthew Allen is expected to be on the bench as the reserve goalkeeper for Sandefjord.
Start have occupied the sixth spot in the Eliteserien for what has seemed like an eternity. Unfortunately this also means that the teams above them who are also fighting for a medal have increased their margin in the standings.
Currently Stabaek sit third with 41 points and occupy the final Europa League spot, seven points ahead of Torum's squad with just five matches left in the season.
Freeman and Goodson have seen their club fall back mainly due to road woes as the club has yet to win away from Sor Arena since beating Odd back on July 12th.
Meanwhile Sandefjord continue their impressive season sitting ninth after being newly promoted last year from the 1. Division.
Head coach Patrick Walker appears to be one of the leading candidates for Coach of the Year despite heavy competition from Rosenborg's Erik Hamren who is on the verge of an undefeated season.
Injuries to Ole Martin Årst and Knut Henry Haraldsen still persist for Torum while the Irish head man for the hosts will have a full squad available.
Lyn - Tromso
There will be a swell of emotion at Ullevaal Stadion for FC Lyn fans on Sunday afternoon when Tyrel Lacey and company play host to Tromso.
In what has become a very public situation, Lyn are staring bankruptcy in the face and could very well be playing their final match ever should the club fail to meet the September 28th financial deadline.
The Football Association of Norway (NFF) has mandated that the club raise 17 million Kroner - $3 million - prior to Monday or else the club will be turned over to the NFF or folded all together.
As far as the action on the field is considered, Lacey will take his place in between the pipes for head coach Gunnar Halle.
Lyn are coming off an emotional defeat which saw them lose to crosstown rivals Valerenga for the first time in 28 years.
Tromso sit in eighth place in the Eliteserien standings with a very slim chance at earning a spot in Europe next year.
Head coach Per Mathias Hogmo directs a squad that has trouble scoring as the Tromso attack has only mustered 30 goals all season which Lacey will hope to continue by the end of Sunday night.
Halle will be without Tommy Bernsten while Hogmo has a full squad at his disposal.
Bodo/Glimt - Valerenga
Troy Perkins and Valerenga will try to put their Norwegian Cup disappointment behind them when they travel to Bodo on Sunday to take on Bodo/Glimt at Aspmyra Stadion.
Player/coach Martin Andresen may look to give starting goalkeeper Troy Perkins a rest after the netminder went all 120 minutes in Wednesday's Cup loss at Molde.
Perkins gave up six goals but 'Enga' were playing with just 10 men following the expulsion of Andreas Nordvik in the 77th minute.
The heartbreaking loss will be difficult to overcome so Andresen will be on guard to coach up his players to ensure there is no hangover effect.
Valerenga are still not out of the woods in regards to the relegation battle so claiming at least a point on the road at Bodo/Glimt would be a plus.
Bodo/Glimt feature an extremely weak attack as they are tied with only Lyn for scoring the fewest goals in the Eliteserien.
However with relegation looming on the hosts themselves, Bodo/Glimt head coach Kåre Ingebrigtsen will be urging his squad to take advantage of a fatigued Valerenga defense.
Nordvik will be unavailable for Andresen due to his red card from Wednesday night as will Andre Muri who is still nursing an injury.
Freddy dos Santos and Erik Hagen also continue to be long-term injuries for the visitors after undergoing season-ending surgery.
Ingebrigtsen will be missing the services of Christian Berg, Daniel Stensland and Trond Fredrik Ludvigsen whom are all out with injuries.
Notes
Mikkel Diskerud is at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup with the US team and will not take part in Stabaek's match versus Stromsgodset.
Goalkeeper Adin Brown will likely watch from the bench as Aalesund travel to Viking.
Brian Waltrip is not likely to suit up as Molde travel to first place Rosenborg who can clinch the Eliteserien title with a victory.
Jay Needham is suspended for last week's red card versus Skeid and will miss Alta's critical Sunday encounter at Bryne.
Connor Tobin will hope to see some second half minutes coming off the bench for a rejuvenated Nybergsund who hope to continue their promotion playoff push at Mjondalen.
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