PREVIEW: WEEKEND NORWEGIAN ACTION Arch Bell - Thursday, October 15, 2009
Hunter Freeman and Clarence Goodson return home to face Aalesund while Tyrel Lacey and Lyn hope to make the best of things versus Stromsgodset as the Eliteserien returns to action this weekend.
Start - Aalesund
The American defensive duo of Hunter Freeman and Clarence Goodson may help determine the relegation battle in the Eliteserien as they host Aalesund on Sunday at Sor Arena in Kristiansand.
Both Freeman and Goodson are expected to start for head coach Knut Torum whose squad upended previously undefeated and newly-crowned league champions Rosenborg two weeks ago.
Goodson was at the center of the controversial finish to the match which saw Rosenborg's Rade Prica push Goodson in the penalty area after the Rosenborg goalkeeper had saved a shot.
The foul led to a penalty kick which Start converted to earn the win. In the aftermath, the US international received harsh criticism from both Rosenborg players and coaching staff who said that Goodson was 'acting'.
Theatrics aside, Start pulled off the upset and hope to build on this momentum heading into the final three matches of the season.
Sunday's game against Aalesund could prove to be a key component to the relegation battle that is happening at the bottom of the Eliteserien standings.
Aalesund sit in 12th place, four points above Fredrikstad for the relegation playoff position. But with Fredrikstad hosting fifth place Odd on Monday, Aalesund hope to claim at least a point in Kristiansand to potentially pad the difference between themselves and Fredrikstad.
Reserve goalkeeper and California native Adin Brown is expected to watch the match from the bench with his teammates.
The Norwegian Cup finalists are in the odd position where they could win the cup competition and earn a spot in next year's Europa League, yet be relegated to the 1. Division due to their league performance.
A leg injury will keep Start's Petter Bruer Hanssen from playing while Aalesund's Tor Hogne Aarøy is suspended for Sunday's affair.
Lyn - Stromsgodset
Relegation-bound Lyn will look to play spoiler this Sunday when they host struggling Stromsgodset at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.
Goalkeeper Tyrel Lacey is expected to take his normal starting postion in between the pipes for head coach Gunnar Halle.
The hubbub surrounding the possible bankruptcy of Lyn has at least died down for the moment so that Lacey and company can focus their attention on winning games.
Lyn was extended a loan by a sponsor ensuring that the Oslo club can finish the season, but beyond November 1st, it remains to be seen whether or not Lyn will continue to exist.
What is known is Halle's squad will not be playing matches in the Eliteserien next year after their loss to Lillestrom two weeks ago sealed their relegation fate.
Lacey will look to impress on Sunday as possible suitors from other clubs have begun scouting Lyn matches in detail with the folding of the club still looming. One player who has shone for the hosts is striker Davy Angan who was a thorn in the side of the Lillestrom defense two weeks ago.
Stromsgodset enter the match desperate for the three points in an attempt to stay above the relegation zone. The visitors sit 13th and are a mere one point above Fredrikstad who occupy the relegation playoff spot.
Tommy Berntsen and Paul Obiefule will be game day decisions for Halle while Stromsgodset will be without Kim André Madsen.
Brann - Valerenga
Sixth place Valerenga travel to Brann Stadion in Bergen on Sunday to take on Brann in a match that will have an impact on the race to next year's Europa League.
Goalkeeper Troy Perkins will assume his normal position in net for player/coach Martin Andresen whose squad finds itself playing out the string in the Eliteserien.
One of the positives of late for the visitors has been the recent stellar play of Perkins who has given up only one goal in the last 180 minutes.
The Ohio native is also one of the candidates for the third goalkeeping spot for next summer's US national team roster at the World Cup in South Africa.
A strong performance by Perkins in the last three matches of the season may help convince US national team head coach Bob Bradley that the former DC United man would be the right choice for that third 'keeper slot.
Brann enter the match with plenty at stake as they sit behind both Stabaek and Molde in the league standings and just four points separating themselves from a berth in next year's Europa League.
With Molde hosting Stabaek this weekend, a win for Brann will push them even closer to playing in Europe so Perkins can expect Brann's Erik Huseklepp to be taking aim at him all afternoon long.
Huseklepp has 15 goals on the season and has become a regular starter for the Norwegian national team.
Long-term injuries to Freddy dos Santos and Erik Hagen still persist for Valerenga while Brann midfielder Jan Gunnar Solli has to sit this one out due to suspension.
Alta - Mjondalen
With the odds of grabbing the final promotion playoff position now very slim, Jay Needham and Alta turn their thoughts to staying above the relegation zone in the 1. Division as they host Mjondalen at Finnmarkshallen Arena in Alta on Sunday.
Needham has been hampered by a hamstring strain which he sustained two weeks ago in a 1-0 victory over Notodden.
The native Texan played through the injury in last week's 2-1 defeat at Tromsdalen. It didn't help that the Old Man Winter arrived early to Norway this year and playing in the frozen temperatures likely worsened Needham's injury.
The comforts of the indoor home arena may provide a more suitable playing environment for Alta's team captain and should the club doctor give a thumbs-up, it should be expected that head coach Aasmund Bjorkman will slot the Fort Worth resident in at his normal position of central midfielder.
Sitting seven points behind Sarpsborg, chances at landing the final playoff promotion spot are long for Bjorkman's squad who would need Sarpsborg to lose out while Alta would need to win out.
On the other side of things, Alta are just four points above the relegation zone and face a Mjondalen squad who is also sitting mid-table, yet could fall into the relegation zone with a series of poor results to end the season.
In addition to Needham, starting goalkeeper Mikko Vilmunen will be a game day decision for Bjorkman while Mjondalen's Henrik Hontvedt is out for the rest of the year following season-ending surgery last week.
Notes
Mikkel Diskerud is back from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and will hope to see some minutes as a second half substitute for Stabaek who travel to Molde where Brian Waltrip continues to recuperate from a fractured ankle.
Matthew Allen is expected to be the reserver goalkeeper for Sandefjord who host Lillestrom on Sunday.
Connor Tobin is likely to start on the bench in Nybergsund's road visit to Lov-Ham.
Currently visting YA: 328 
See these related articles
