The Norway thread

Kurosaki signed for Arna Bjørnar in September last year, but played reserve team football in the beginning, then made some appearances as substitute towards the end of last season, so no wonder you haven't heard much about her. She was upgraded to a frequent rotation player at the start of this season though and under this new temporary leadership, she was given a starting spot against LSK and assisted the winning goal yesterday.

 

TOPPSERIEN 2022 – Rescheduled match


Rosenborg 1 – 0 Stabæk
Brønstad 72

This match was originally scheduled for August, but was rearranged to Wednesday to make the fixture list easier around the time for the UWCL qualifiers. Rosenborg’s dominance was total, but Stabæk defended well for most of the match. No video available, but substitute Brønstad’s winning goal was a well taken shot from inside the box.

RBK (4-2-3-1): Christensen – Harviken, Leine (Jøsendal 59), Bragstad, Næss – Magnusdottir, Joramo – Olsvik, Andreassen (Brønstad 67), Skinnes Hansen (Nergård 67) – Fornes (Nautnes 81).

STA (3-4-3): Skoglund – Kristoffersen (Bjørneboe 56), Sundlöv, Pettersen – Loennecken, Kielland, Huseby, Thoresen (Vallotto 73) – Anderdal (Lundblad 85), Jönsson (Bjørndalen 85), Omarsdottir.




Big matches coming up this weekend.

NEXT MATCHDAY
08 May: Avaldsnes – Stabæk
08 May: Kolbotn – Arna Bjørnar
08 May: Røa – Lyn
08 May: Vålerenga – Brann
08 May: LSK Kvinner – Rosenborg

 

Norway bowed out of the U17 Euros tonight after a 1-0 defeat to France. A terrible mix-up between goalkeeper and a defender gifted France the winning goal after an hour. Based on the full 90 minutes it perhaps was a fair scoreline, but Norway were better in the second half and a draw would not have been undeserved. Still, the team lacked bite up front and haven't really looked like world beaters at any stage in these two games. I think the captain Signe Gaupset and Kamilla Melgård were the two players who stood out for Norway in a line-up with players of uneven quality. Ida Natvik squandered a 100% chance one-v-one with the goalkeeper early in the second half at 0-0. Those types of chances must be converted to goals in games like this one.

It's a bummer the third and now meaningless group match is against Finland. It should have been game number one or two. This Norway team tend to grow stronger with each game like they did in the qualifiers. Would have liked to have Spain in match three.

 

TOPPSERIEN 2022 – Matchday 8


Avaldsnes 0 – 1 Stabæk
Jönsson 6



An early goal from Zara Jönsson was enough to bring the points back to Stabæk and leave John Arne Riise empty-handed yet again. Stabæk coach Per Inge Jacobsen is one of the biggest critics of the current league system and launched a Scandinavian super league as a better solution some days ago. No one has backed him on that yet though, so it seems like a pie in the sky. A recent anonymous player survey revealed only 1 out of 108 players preferred the current league system. NFF will evaluate its future after the season. It might be on borrowed time already. Anyway, Jacobsen’s team is still within a chance of making top four this season. For Riise it’s all about the ”relegation league” starting in September.

AVA (4-3-3): Petrovic - Løvås, Olsen, Duah, Dahl – Nybru (Rolston 45), Østenstad, Badu – Haugland (Johannessen 73), Sævik, Blomquist (Endresen 50).

STA (3-5-2): Skoglund – Bjørneboe (Kristoffersen 88), Sundlöv, Pettersen – Loennecken, Kielland, Huseby, Anderdal (Grønli 65), Vallotto (Thoresen 75) – Jönsson (Bjørndalen 88), Omarsdottir (Bjånesøy 75).


0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 –


Kolbotn 2 – 0 Arna Bjørnar
Hørte 40, Hegg 51



Kolbotn again had to play a home game on a neighbouring ground (KFUM Arena, Oslo) as the problematic grass pitch at Sofiemyr is still unsuitable for football. Arna Bjørnar appointed Bjarne Hagen as the new head coach this week. Hagen previously worked for A-B seven years ago as assistant coach and has promised his team will play «high tempo, high intensity football». Well, today they came up short against Kolbotn. Defender Sara Hørte scored a trademark headed goal from corner and Eline Hegg scored the second. Tonje Pedersen had the assists on both goals. Kolbotn are inviting everyone to ”folkefest” as Sofiemyr finally opens next home game May 22 against Brann. I predict 350 spectators.

KOL (4-3-3): Ervik – Sørbo, Hørte, Soleng Hansen, Lång – Døvle, Østerås, Pedersen (Klæboe 62) – Hegg, Dyrehauge, Kvernvolden.

A-B (4-3-3): Norstrøm – Svendheim, Hovland, Ose, Johannsdottir – Sælen, Aleksic, Kurosaki (Veivåg 83) – Midtbø (Andreassen 64), Ivanovic (Holme 83), Veglo.


0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 –


Røa 0 – 2 Lyn
Palm 36, 66



Lyn are one of the positive surprises this season and they are shadowing LSK on the table equal on points for that elusive fourth place. Who would have predicted that almost halfway through the preliminary league season? Today’s two goal hero was Anna Palm, who hadn’t scored a single goal in any of her 91 previous appearances for the club. Røa can’t do much right this spring season. Sarah Suphellen missed a penalty against LSK not long ago and today Synne Raa shot a penalty wide of goal a minute before Palm scored her second for Lyn at the other end.

RØA (4-3-3): Sævik – Lyshoel, Raa, Masdal, Engås (Renolen 81) – Huse (Osnes-Ringen 66), Suphellen, Fuglem – De Courcy (Bogere 66), Fjelldal (Bruusgaard 88), Bjørlykhaug.

LYN (3-5-2): Odden - Bølviken, Fink, Sandnes Olsen – Palm, Hernes, Jorde (Fladberg 76), Holmen (Søyland 71), Closs – Tandberg (Isaksen 90), Aahjem.


0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 –


Vålerenga 1 – 1 Brann
Thomsen 14 --- Engesvik 75



This was qualitywise the best match in Toppserien so far this season. We saw tempo, precision, build-up and passing at a high level. We had two teams full of confidence going at each other. Brann took the early initiative and dominated possession, but Vålerenga scored against the run of play when Malin Sunde threaded a beautiful pass through to Janni Thomsen who cut in from the right. The Danish wing-back(!) scored her sixth goal this season and is now joint top scorer in the league with clubmate Elise Thorsnes, who had a quiet day at work. Brann probably should have had a penalty later after a handball, but was denied by the referee. The second half had few scoring chances, but Brann equalized fifteen minutes from the end when Lisa Naalsund played a long ball in behind the Vålerenga backline for Rakel Engesvik to chase. Goalkeeper Guro Pettersen was slow to come out and Engesvik rounded her and scored. Both head coaches thought a draw was a fair result in post-match interviews, but Vålerenga stay league leaders on goal difference.

VIF (3-4-1-2): Pettersen – Sunde, Pedersen, Sigurdardottir – Thomsen, Nygard, Stefanovic, Bjelde – Tvedten (Brekken 76) – Thorsnes, Nielsen (Lillegård 78).

BRA (3-4-2-1): Mikalsen - Hansen, Bergsvand, Østenstad - Kvamme, Eide Lie, Naalsund, B. Lund (Åsland 73) - Terland, Engesvik – Gudmundsdottir (Ryland 46).


0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 –


LSK Kvinner 0 – 0 Rosenborg



This was the first goalless draw in Toppserien 2022. Rosenborg came closest to scoring when Sara Fornes hit the post with a header at the end of the first half. LSK had stalwart centre-back Ina Gausdal back from injury, and she was important as they finally were able to keep a clean sheet again. But LSK’s problem is first and foremost in attack. Only nine goals scored this season. Emilie Haavi and Sophie Haug were sold to Roma, Camilla Linberg and Mimmi Löfwenius are injured and the replacements are not at the same level – yet if ever. Rosenborg experience much the same. The creative forces of Julie Blakstad is dearly missed in the team, but the defence is good. Right now these two clubs are lagging behind Brann and Vålerenga at the top, not only in terms of points on the table, but also in gelling as team and player material. They need to take action. Rosenborg’s economy is strong and they will sign top player(s) in the summer.

LSK (4-2-3-1): Fiskerstrand – Woldvik, Brenn, Gausdal, Authen (Røstbakken 87)– Spord, Godø – Wilmann, Gashi (Kyvåg 85), Holt Andersen – Jakobsson.

RBK (4-2-3-1): Christensen – Olsvik, Harviken, Bragstad, Næss – Magnusdottir, Joramo – Jøsendal, Brønstad (Andreassen 41), Skinnes Hansen – Fornes (Nergård 82).





TOP SCORERS
6 goals – Janni Thomsen (Vålerenga)
6 goals – Elise Thorsnes (Vålerenga)
5 goals – Elisabeth Terland (Brann)
5 goals – Sara Fornes (Rosenborg)
4 goals – Nora Eide Lie (Brann)
3 goals – Rakel Engesvik (Brann)
3 goals – Marit Bratberg Lund (Brann)
3 goals – Sara Hørte (Kolbotn)
3 goals – Anna Aahjem (Lyn)
3 goals – Zara Jönsson (Stabæk)
3 goals – Agnete Nielsen (Vålerenga)

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

2 goals – Miljana Ivanovic (Arna Bjørnar)
2 goals – Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir (Brann)
2 goals – Ingrid Ryland (Brann)
2 goals – Ingrid Kvernvolden (Kolbotn)
2 goals – Emma Godø (LSK Kvinner)
2 goals – Nina Jakobsson (LSK Kvinner)
2 goals – Thea Kyvåg (LSK Kvinner)
2 goals – Emilie Closs (Lyn)
2 goals – Kamilla Melgård (Lyn)
2 goals – Anna Palm (Lyn)
2 goals – Anna Jøsendal (Rosenborg)
2 goals – Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir (Rosenborg)
2 goals – Emilie Nautnes (Rosenborg)
2 goals – Vilde Fjelldal (Røa)
2 goals – Siri Nordeide Grønli (Stabæk)
2 goals – Iris Omarsdottir (Stabæk)
2 goals – Runa Lillegård (Vålerenga)
2 goals – Rikke Nygard (Vålerenga)
2 goals – Olaug Tvedten (Vålerenga)

NEXT MATCHDAY
11 May: Arna Bjørnar – Brann (rescheduled game from Matchday 17 in August)
---
22 May: Avaldsnes – Rosenborg
22 May: LSK Kvinner – Lyn
22 May: Røa – Stabæk
22 May: Vålerenga – Arna Bjørnar
22 May: Kolbotn – Brann

 

The U19 Euro qualifiers will be completed this week in Austria with Norway's group with Ukraine, Austria and Bulgaria.

Norway - Ukraine kicked off at 12:00 CET.

Don't know if it's geoblocked abroad.

 

We can take a look at the the 1st Division table as it stands now. The top two here will join the bottom six in Toppserien and make up the relegation league starting in September.



The major surprise is Klepp who are struggling big time. A founding member of Toppserien and never relegated until last year, now in danger of suffering relegation two years in a row. They have kept some of their key players like Hege Hansen up front and signed Oda Bogstad as goalkeeper, but still struggled. Klepp are joined in the bottom by other former Toppserien clubs like Medkila and Amazon Grimstad.

The Northern challengers are instead Grand Bodø and Tromsø, the latter really pushing for promotion. I hope they make it. We need better geographical representation in Toppserien. Øvrevoll Hosle are just another boring Oslo club and Åsane are from Bergen. Åsane lost the promotion play-offs to Lyn last season, but are building something stronger now.

AaFk Fortuna from Ålesund signed Karna Solskjær from Manchester United today. I wonder if this might give them a boost in the chase for promotion. Likely not.

o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o

The NM Cup is shortly upon us again. Actually, we've already had preliminary rounds with lower league teams involved, but now is the round where Toppserien clubs enter. Here is the second round set-up published today. (I, II and III indicate which tier in the league system each club belongs to).

III Grei ......................... May 18 ......... Kolbotn I
III Ullensaker/Kisa ...... May 18 ......... Lyn I
III Fart ......................... May 18 ......... Vålerenga I
III Viking ...................... May 18 ......... Avaldsnes I
III Loddefjord ............... May 18 ......... Brann I
III Tynset ..................... May 18 ......... LSK Kvinner I
III Runar ...................... May 18 ......... Røa I
II Øvrevoll Hosle ......... May 18 ......... Hønefoss II
III Odd ......................... May 18 ......... Stabæk I
II Klepp ....................... May 19 ........ Arendal III
II Åsane ...................... May 19 ........ Arna Bjørnar I
II KIL Hemne ............... May 19 ........ Rosenborg I
II Amazon Grimstad ... May 25 ........ Sandefjord III
II Grand Bodø .............. May 25 ........ Tromsø 2020 II
III Molde ...................... May 25 ........ AaFK Fortuna II
III Porsanger ................ May 25 ........ Medkila II

It should pretty much be straight forward wins for the Toppserien clubs, but a warning for what Viking can do against Avaldsnes. Viking have players on pro contracts at tier three and are beating up teams in their conference. They work hard to establish a Toppserien club. If there is an upset in this round, I sense it can be in that game.

 

A bit, yes. I googled to see if this Super League suggestion was picked up elsewhere in Scandinavia, and a short comment was made yesterday from Stefan Alvén, head of Swedish woso elite section, who is in favour of some sort of Scandi tournament, but not a new league: "We do not want a break-out league, but we're positive to Swedish clubs playing international opposition. We have a window in February when many Scandinavian clubs are away on training camps".

 

Ouch. LSK goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand suffered an ACL injury in practice yesterday. Out for a long time and of course misses the Euros.

 

Avaldsnes have now been awarded a 3-0 win over Kolbotn on paper by NFF in this game. A big wall of text was produced to justify this outcome, but the short version is that Kolbotn were aware of the poor pitch conditions (which is their problem), but failed to have a back-up solution match arena ready on the day.

 

As I see it, we now have four goalkeepers competing for three spots in the Euro squad. Guro Pettersen (Vålerenga), Aurora Mikalsen (Brann) and Sunniva Skoglund (Stabæk) are the probable trio with Rugile Rulyte (Rosenborg) as nearest challenger. Ida Norstrøm (Arna Bjørnar) has been in the picture earlier, but seems to have disappeared from Sjögren's radar.

I'll say Guro Pettersen is first choice now. She is 30 years old and has only conceded two goals in Toppserien this season and got some minutes against Kosovo in the WC qualifiers last month, which might indicate she is first in line as back-up for Fiskerstrand. Although I've never been a big fan of Fiskerstrand, she has well over 40 caps and is Norway's only goalkeeper with experience at international level. Euro 2022 was supposed to be her first big tournament. Ingrid Hjelmseth played every single minute of every match in major tournaments for Norway between 2009 and 2019. There is a big void to fill.

Pettersen and Mikalsen only have one cap each and Skoglund none. Pettersen's international experience is two seasons at Damallsvenskan with Piteå. Mikalsen had a spell in England, but sat mostly on the bench at Man Utd and Spurs. One thing is for sure, Norway have never entered a major tournament with less experienced goalkeepers.

 

Skoglund's raw material is the best I've seen of a Norwegian keeper for many years. She has had a strong season so far. Ingrid Hjelmseth is her goalkeeper coach at Stabæk, and I'm sure she has close contact with Martin Sjögren regarding Skoglund. Bringing her to England as third choice would be a good thing, I think. To be a part of a major tournament as a squad member is a nice learning experience for the future.

I'm secretly hoping Fiskerstrand's absence is a blessing in disguise. Her weakness was always her goalkicks. They never get much further than 35 meters upfield. You get away with that in most of the qualifiers when you play against teams unable to put you under serious pressure. But against stronger teams, it's been frustrating not to have a goalkeeper who can boot the ball upfield when needed as a variation to playing out from the back. Guro Pettersen, on the other hand, has that ability as a major asset to her game.

 

TOPPSERIEN 2022 - rescheduled game


Brann 10 – 0 Avaldsnes
Bergsvand 7, 18, Terland 13, 59, Gudmundsdottir 35, 51, Stenevik 49, Bratberg Lund 55, Brochmann 78, 85



Ouch! Avaldsnes hit new lows with this scoreline, which looks more likely to happen in an early NM cup round than in a Toppserien match. Absolutely played off the park by Brann. One might wonder if the players underperformed on purpose in an attempt to get rid of Riise or if Brann’s performance was this good. I never saw the game. This match was rescheduled from Matchday 17 in August to make the fixture list easier around the time for the UWCL qualifiers. Well, it couldn't get much easier than this. Brann strengthened their club today by signing Olli Harder as new sports manager. Harder has coached West Ham over the last couple of years, but is now motivated for a new role in Norway’s best club.

BRA (3-4-2-1): Mikalsen – Hansen, Bergsvand, Stenevik – Kvamme (Ryland 46), Eide Lie, Naalsund (Neset 61), B. Lund – Terland (Brochmann 62), Engesvik (Åsland 46) – Gudmundsdottir (Gaupset 71).

AVA (4-3-3): Petrovic - Endresen, Olsen, Duah, Dahl – Nilsen, Pavlovic (Natvik 46), Badu (Johannesen 65) – Haugland (Søresen 76), Rolston, Østenstad.

 

Nine second round NM Cup matches were played last night, most of them Toppserien clubs against tier three clubs. No upsets. Even Avaldsnes managed to get through although the goals came relatively late. Stabæk struggled a bit more against Odd than expected, but Melissa Bjånesøy came off the bench to score the winner.

III Grei ......................... 0 - 2 ......... Kolbotn I
III Ullensaker/Kisa ..... 0 - 4 ......... Lyn I
III Fart ......................... 0 - 9 ......... Vålerenga I
III Viking ..................... 1 - 3 ......... Avaldsnes I
III Loddefjord .............. 0 - 12 ........ Brann I
III Tynset ..................... 0 - 12 ........ LSK Kvinner I
III Runar ...................... 0 - 8 ......... Røa I
II Øvrevoll Hosle ........ 4 - 3 ......... Hønefoss II
III Odd ......................... 0 - 1 ......... Stabæk I

 

Three more NM Cup matches last night. All ten Toppserien clubs through to the next round.

II Klepp ....................... 5 - 2 ........ Arendal III
II Åsane ...................... 0 - 1 ........ Arna Bjørnar I
II KIL Hemne .............. 1 - 4 ........ Rosenborg I

The last four matches in this round will be played next week on Wednesday. Only clubs from lower tiers are involved in those fixtures.

 

I don't know much about her background other than that, actually. She can only be traced back to 2009 on NFF's website, so I don't know for how long she has lived in Norway. She speaks Norwegian with a Bergen accent, that's for sure, but might have spent a good number of years in America as a kid for what I know.