Sorting rules: 1. Goal difference 2. Scored goals 3. Points in head-to-head 4. Goal difference in head-to-head 5. Scored goals in head-to-head
If the goal difference is identical between Vålerenga and Rosenborg, then Rosenborg will win. For instance: Vålerenga 2 – 1 Arna Bjørnar Klepp 0 – 5 Rosenborg Both teams will then have a GD of 37-15 Both matches this season between the teams ended in draws (0-0 and 1-1). Rosenborg will win on the away goals rule with their injury time equalizer in Oslo. It's a longshot, but you never know..
Half-time scorelines in Toppserien. It's looking comfortable for Vålerenga at the moment regarding the title. Two goals ahead and a couple of efforts against the crossbar, but Arna Bjørnar have had a couple of dangerous counter-attacks. Vålerenga 2 - 0 Arna Bjørnar Klepp 0 - 0 Rosenborg Sandviken 1 - 0 Avaldsnes LSK Kvinner 0 - 0 Lyn Table right now: Vålerenga 38p Rosenborg 36p Avaldsnes 34p
TOPPSERIEN 2020 – 18th Matchday Røa 2 – 0 Kolbotn (Played 15 November) Klepp 1 – 2 Rosenborg 0-1 Lisa-Marie Utland 47 0-2 Celine Nergård 66 1-2 Ingeborg Skretting 89 Rosenborg have managed something quite unique this year; to go undefeated through a full league season and still not win the title. The nice consolation prize is of course a Champions League spot next year, which is far earlier than the long-term plan suggested for this ambitious Rosenborg project. Impressive all-round season, and I’m very excited for the upcoming transfer window for this club with European football on the fixture list as negotiation tool. Klepp had big problems with injuries and quarantined players, but manged to put up decent resistance today and avoided a big loss. There is much uncertainty surrounding Klepp and a bunch of top players leaving. KLE (3-4-3): Gay 6 – Østenstad 4, T.Hansen 5, Vistnes 5 (Brunes -) – S.Jensen 4, Andresen 4 (Nødland 6), Aune 5, Skretting 6 – Karlsen 5 (Tveit -), D’Anjou 4, Austdal 4 (Kogstad -). RBK (4-2-3-1): Nøstmo 5 (Rulyte -) – Næss 4, Hofset 5, Vårhus 5, Minde 5 – Sørum 5 (Lein -), Joramo 4 – Utland 6 (Hernes -), Andreassen 6 (Fornes -), Blakstad 6 – Clausen 4 (Nergård -). # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # LSK Kvinner 0 – 1 Lyn 0-1 Laura Gashi 50 LSK are the worst team on the form table in Toppserien now; one draw and four defeats in the last five games. After this loss to Lyn, they dropped to fifth on the table. LSK benched many of the key players today from start with the Champions League match in Minsk in mind the upcoming midweek, but still worrying to lose against Lyn. Hege Riise has announced her retirement as head coach after this season, but will switch roles with Knut Slatleim, the current assistant coach, and stay in the club in a more withdrawn position. LSK (4-4-2): Norstrøm 5 – Egenes 4 (Luthcke 5), Gausdal 5 (Brenn -), Authen 5, Woldvik 5 (Vanhaevermaet -) – Dekkerhus 4, Ellingsen 4, Bachor 4, Pedersen 4 – Kyvåg 5, Haavi 6 (Haug 5). LYN (4-4-2): Odden 5 – Bølviken 5, Jensen 6, Olsen 6, Closs 5 – Tunes 5 (Bakke -), Gashi 7 (Tandberg -), Hernes 4, Godø 5 – Linberg 6 (Søyland -), Löfwenius 6 (Aahjem -). # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # Sandviken 4 – 0 Avaldsnes 1-0 Marina H. Jensen 8 2-0 Synne Raa 68 3-0 Marina H. Jensen 75 4-0 Rakel Engesvik 78 It has been a turbulent season with three different coaches for Sandviken. They ended 2020 with one of their best performances since their win against Vålerenga on the first matchday. The popular former coach Alexander Straus (resigned in 2018) is back and has brought optimism in the squad again and it was easy to see that against Avaldsnes, even with some good players out injured. Others stepped up in a new system with three defenders and wingbacks. Title chasing Avaldsnes had little to offer and had to settle for bronze medals this year, still better than most people expected before the season started. SAN (3-4-1-2): Stavenes 6 – Grøndal 6, Bergsvand 7, Raa 8 – Ryland 6, Veivåg 5 (Neset -), Naalsund 6, Ferstad 7 (Sangolt -) – H.Jensen 8 (Veglo -) – Hasund 6, Engesvik 8 (Lekven -). AVA (4-3-3): Esson 4 – Dahl 5 (Sævereid -), Decker 4, Polkinghorne 3, Utvik 3 (Løvås -) – Tennebø 4, Tvedten 6, Dirdal 3 (Thorsnes 4) – Ajibade 4 (Arnesen -), Norheim 4 (Enlid -), Jøsendal 5. # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # Vålerenga 4 – 0 Arna Bjørnar 1-0 Sherida Spitse 4 2-0 Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir 17 3-0 Celin Bizet Ildhusøy 64 4-0 Cathrine Bott 83 Vålerenga clinched the championship by goal difference on the final matchday in the televised game on NRK. A ground-breaking first title for Vålerenga. They scored early on a trademark Spitse free-kick, her first league goal since the season opener, and then controlled the game confidently after that. Arna Bjørnar missed five regular starters and had granted early Christmas vacation to their Eastern European internationals, who weren’t called back to Norway to play one meaningless match in these Covid times. Vålerenga had their three Danes out in quarantine, but were never troubled. Ajara Njoya managed to hold on to her golden boot as top scorer, but should have added a couple of goals in this game. This could be the first leg of the domestic double for Vålerenga, there is the NM cup final against LSK coming up next Sunday, but first Brøndby in the CL. [Full match and celebrations on NRK] VIF (4-2-3-1): Tompkins 5 – Bott 7, Waldus 6, Sigurðardóttir 8, Tomter 6 – Spitse 8, Stefanovic 5 (Østerås -) – Markussen 5 (Ildhusøy 6), H.Hansen 6 (Nygard -), Jensen 5 – Njoya 6. A-B (4-4-2): Edrud 5 – Brummel 4, Risnes 5, Bjelde 4, Takle Eide 4 – Myrseth 4, Sunde 3 (Skrede -), Ose 4, Laupstad 3 – Abrahamsen 5 (Johannsdottir -), Midtbø 4. # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # 0 # TOP SCORERS 10 – Ajara Njoya (Vålerenga) 9 – Camilla Linberg (Lyn) 9 – Marit Clausen (Rosenborg) 8 – Elise Thorsnes (Avaldsnes) 8 – Sophie Haug (LSK Kvinner) 7 – Rasheedat Ajibade (Avaldsnes) 7 – Julie Blakstad (Rosenborg) 7 – Dejana Stefanovic (Vålerenga) 6 – Lisa-Marie Utland (Rosenborg) Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler 5 – Meryll Abrahamsen (Arna Bjørnar) 5 – Elisabeth Terland (Klepp) 5 – Emilie Haavi (LSK Kvinner) 5 – Mimmi Löfwenius (LSK Kvinner / Lyn) 5 – Linn Huseby (Røa) 5 – Kennya Cordner (Sandviken) 5 – Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir (Vålerenga) 4 – Johanne Fridlund (Kolbotn) 4 – Emma Godø (Lyn) 4 – Kathrine Jørgensen (Røa) 4 – Maria Brochmann (Sandviken) 3 – Katrina Gorry (Avaldsnes) 3 – Matilde Rogde (Klepp) 3 – Cecelia Kizer (Kolbotn) 3 – Ina Gausdal (LSK Kvinner) 3 – Andrea Wilmann (LSK Kvinner) 3 – Runa Lillegård (Lyn) 3 – Sara Fornes (Rosenborg) 3 – Elin Sørum (Rosenborg) 3 – Guro Bergsvand (Sandviken) 3 – Vilde Hasund (Sandviken) 3 – Lisa Naalsund (Sandviken) 3 – Synne Jensen (Vålerenga) 3 – Rikke Madsen (Vålerenga) 3 – Sherida Spitse (Vålerenga) 2 – Kristina Erman (Arna Bjørnar) 2 – Rikke Nygard (Arna Bjørnar) 2 – Katarina Sunde (Arna Bjørnar) 2 – Robyn Decker (Avaldsnes) 2 – Andrea Norheim (Avaldsnes) 2 – Ylinn Tennebø (Avaldsnes) 2 – Olaug Tvedten (Avaldsnes) 2 – Tuva Hansen (Klepp) 2 – Nicole Stanton (Klepp) 2 – Marthine Østenstad (Klepp) 2 – Eline Hegg (Kolbotn) 2 – Sara Hørte (Kolbotn) 2 – Julie Hoff Klæboe (Kolbotn) 2 – Marit Bratberg Lund (Kolbotn) 2 – Justine Vanhaevermaet (LSK Kvinner) 2 – Trine Skjelstad Jensen (Lyn) 2 – Cesilie Andreassen (Rosenborg) 2 – Celine Nergård (Rosenborg) 2 – Rakel Engesvik (Sandviken) 2 – Marina H. Jensen (Sandviken) 2 – Synne Raa (Sandviken) 2 – Sigrid Heien Hansen (Vålerenga) 2 – Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Vålerenga) 2 – Janni Thomsen (Vålerenga) 1 – Linnéa Laupstad (Arna Bjørnar) 1 – Pia Rijsdijk (Arna Bjørnar) 1 – Hanna Dahl (Avaldsnes) 1 – Anna Jøsendal (Avaldsnes) 1 – Holmfridur Magnusdottir (Avaldsnes) 1 – Clare Polkinghorne (Avaldsnes) 1 – Marie Andresen (Klepp) 1 – Sofie Bjørnsen (Klepp) 1 – Hege Hansen (Klepp) 1 – Isabella Hayes (Klepp) 1 – Ingeborg Skretting (Klepp) 1 – Synne S. Christiansen (Kolbotn) 1 – Jenny Norem (Kolbotn) 1 – Thea Kyvåg (LSK Kvinner) 1 – Tonje Pedersen (Kolbotn / LSK Kvinner) 1 – Nora Eide Lie (LSK Kvinner) 1 – Emilie Woldvik (LSK Kvinner) 1 – Hedda Foslie (Lyn) 1 – Laura Gashi (Lyn) 1 – Selma Hernes (Lyn) 1 – Sofie Tunes (Lyn) 1 – Ina Vårhus (Rosenborg) 1 – Vilde Birkeli (Røa) 1 – Tuva Espås (Røa) 1 – Oline Fuglem (Røa) 1 – Rebecka Holum (Røa) 1 – Ragne Svastuen (Røa) 1 – Hanna Terry (Røa) 1 – Ida Holm Neset (Sandviken) 1 – Vilde Veglo (Sandviken) 1 – Cathrine Bott (Vålerenga) 1 – Marie Dølvik Markussen (Vålerenga) ASSISTS 8 – Hanna Dahl (Avaldsnes) 7 – Emilie Woldvik (LSK Kvinner) 7 – Cesilie Andreassen (Rosenborg) 6 – Olaug Tvedten (Avaldsnes) 6 – Sherida Spitse (Vålerenga) 5 – Emilie Haavi (LSK Kvinner) 5 – Lisa Naalsund (Sandviken) 5 – Rikke Madsen (Vålerenga) 4 – Elisabeth Terland (Klepp) Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler 3 – Meryll Abrahamsen (Arna Bjørnar) 3 – Rasheedat Ajibade (Avaldsnes) 3 – Eline Hegg (Kolbotn) 3 – Camilla Linberg (Lyn) 3 – Mimmi Löfwenius (LSK Kvinner / Lyn) 3 – Kristine Minde (Rosenborg) 3 – Vilde Hasund (Sandviken) 3 – Synne Jensen (Vålerenga) 3 – Andrine Tomter (Vålerenga) 2 – Linnea Laupstad (Arna Bjørnar) 2 – Isabella Hayes (Klepp) 2 – Matilde Rogde (Klepp) 2 – Cathrine Dahlström (LSK Kvinner) 2 – Heidi Ellingsen (LSK Kvinner) 2 – Nora Eide Lie (LSK Kvinner) 2 – Andrea Wilmann (LSK Kvinner) 2 – Iselin Olsen (Lyn) 2 – Una Søyland (Lyn) 2 – Marit Clausen (Rosenborg) 2 – Celine Nergård (Rosenborg) 2 – Lisa-Marie Utland (Rosenborg) 2 – Kennya Cordner (Sandviken) 2 – Ajara Njoya (Vålerenga) 2 – Marie Dølvik Markussen (Vålerenga) 2 – Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir (Vålerenga) 1 – Marije Brummel (Arna Bjørnar) 1 – Tanja Myrseth (Arna Bjørnar) 1 – Rikke Nygard (Arna Bjørnar) 1 – Pia Rijsdijk (Arna Bjørnar) 1 – Irene Dirdal (Avaldsnes) 1 – Anna Jøsendal (Avaldsnes) 1 – Holmfridur Magnusdottir (Avaldsnes) 1 – Andrea Norheim (Avaldsnes) 1 – Ylinn Tennebø (Avaldsnes) 1 – Elise Thorsnes (Avaldsnes) 1 – Sofie Bjørnsen (Klepp) 1 – Hege Hansen (Klepp) 1 – Ingrid Nødland (Klepp) 1 – Aleksandra Sikora (Klepp) 1 – Susanne Vistnes (Klepp) 1 – Noor Eckhoff (Kolbotn) 1 – Johanne Fridlund (Kolbotn) 1 – Sara Hørte (Kolbotn) 1 – Nikola Orgill (Kolbotn) 1 – Ingrid Bakke (Lyn) 1 – Emma Godø (Lyn) 1 – Selma Hernes (Lyn) 1 – Trine Skjelstad Jensen (Lyn) 1 – Cathinka Tandberg (Lyn) 1 – Sophie Haug (LSK Kvinner) 1 – Justine Vanhaevermaet (LSK Kvinner) 1 – Julie Blakstad (Rosenborg) 1 – Emilie Bragstad (Rosenborg) 1 – Emilie Joramo (Rosenborg) 1 – Mali Næss (Rosenborg) 1 – Ina Vårhus (Rosenborg) 1 – Vilde Birkeli (Røa) 1 – Dorthea Glorud (Røa) 1 – Linn Huseby (Røa) 1 – Frida Lyshoel (Røa) 1 – Lois Roche (Røa) 1 – Guro Bergsvand (Sandviken) 1 – Nora Ferstad (Sandviken) 1 – Marte Hjelmhaug (Sandviken) 1 – Marina H. Jensen (Sandviken) 1 – Ingrid Spord (Sandviken) 1 – Ingrid Stenevik (Sandviken) 1 – Madeleine Veivåg (Sandviken) 1 – Celin Bizet Ildhusøy (Vålerenga) 1 – Stine Ballisager Pedersen (Vålerenga) 1 – Dejana Stefanovic (Vålerenga) TOP 10 – NTB PLAYER RATINGS 6.17 – Emilie Haavi (LSK Kvinner, winger) 6.12 – Julie Blakstad (Rosenborg, winger) 6.06 – Cesilie Andreassen (Rosenborg, attacking midfield) 6.06 – Sherida Spitse (Vålerenga, central midfield) 6.00 – Lisa Naalsund (Sandviken, central midfield) 5.94 – Emilie Woldvik (LSK Kvinner, left-back) 5.94 – Rasheedat Ajibade (Avaldsnes, forward) 5.94 – Olaug Tvedten (Avaldsnes, central midfield) 5.94 – Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir (Vålerenga, center-back) 5.88 – Tuva Hansen (Klepp, centre-back) I'll post a more comprehensive look-back at the season closer to Christmas after the NM Cup final and Champions League.
When I was a child, in 1979, the same thing happened in men's Serie A in Italy, when Perugia went unbeaten for the whole season, but they lost the title to Milan A.C.
Annibale Frossi, 1936 Olympic Champion as a player and subsequently coach in Serie A in the '50s/'60s, was famous for claiming that 0-0 was the "perfect score" because it meant that no team had made any mistake.
Unlike leagues, where you anyway have the "ticket" for the whole season, international tournament actually need to score some goals to advance! And I stop here, or @Bauser will rightfully kick us out of here for off-topicness.
Just a brilliant 18th matchday summary. Rosenborg reminds me of Liverpool only losing single a game in their 38 game EPL season in 2018/19 and coming second. What a year for Vålerenga. They held strong and didn't buckle under the pressure. We'll see how much they have left in the tank for the Cup against LSK, it will be the end of a busy run. On the plus side, LSK have been as you mentioned uncommonly soft the past month or so. Hopefully it's not over by the break and goes to the wire or longer. Did they sort the venue out? I know it was up in the air. Hopefully they reconsidered and keep it at Ullevaal and hopefully they get some royal presence. It will be interesting who they bring in to replace Sherida Spitse. Definitely some of the younger players will have another year of experience and maturity, but the same will hold true for the other teams. They will have a significant maturity/leadership hole, curious what their next move is. I'm sure Rosenborg are a bit disappointed but if you offered them silver at the outset of the campaign I'm sure they would have quickly taken it. The sting of an undefeated year and losing on goal difference will motivate them well indeed, they could pull a Liverpool and blow the roof off the top of the table next year. Avaldsnes and Sandviken had some ups and downs this year which cost them a European spot. They tool and dye'd well but if they want to go top two will need more consistency. Sandviken started well but fell into disarray, perhaps they can steady the ship with existing manpower. Avaldsnes seem always the enigma, never quite the right formula. Lyn won one less game than Rosenborg. Thought I would leave that in it's own paragraph it's so enchanting. If there was a team of the year it's got to be them and not Vålerenga. With Camilla Lindberg done and dusted it will be interesting to see if they can still float the boat or if they sink down the table. It will also be interesting to see how she does in Vålerenga (who now have the top two scorers in the Toppserien). Sadly I don't think the Cup final will be broadcast without a domestic IP, so we'll miss out what could be an exciting finale. Praying for a tape-delay after the fact though.
I guess what's fascinating in Toppserien is that, compared to other leagues around the world, it was very open (at least this season), with multiple realistic title contenders and with a so high general level that the big teams could lose points basically anywhere. In short: what every league should be, but what actually so few leagues really manage to be!
Champions League, Round of 32 - first leg Minsk 0 - 2 LSK Kvinner Haavi 2, Vanhaevermaet 56 Having just finished mid-table in Toppserien, I don't know what to expect from LSK in Champions League this time. You can say they represent Norway more as a depth club than top club this season, which is a nice experiment in itself. I didn't watch the game against Minsk, but based on play-by-play news coverage, it was a comfortable two-goal win, although Minsk had a couple of good chances which they didn't take. A solid advantage before the return leg at home next week, but first the NM Cup final against Vålerenga on Sunday.
Hege Riise's swan song could have an emotional pull, but sooner or later they will be in over their heads on even their best day. Hopefully they can manage the two away goal cushion at home and the draw is favourable next round again. Must have been an enjoyable trip abroad and the positivity sets them up well for the Cup final. They may not have the most talent in the league but they are experienced gamers and know the outcome if you win the Cup, they will pack a lunch. Vålerenga will need to put in a top performance or the mid-table winless-in-five-league-matches has-beens will hand them their hat. Hopefully it has all the excitement and drama it could.
What a mess. Vålerenga - Brøndby scheduled for tonight is postponed. One Brøndby player tested positive after arrival in Oslo, and players who should still be in quarantine in Denmark after the outbreak during the international week, also made the journey to Norway.
Interesting because Vålerenga's Rikke Madsen, Stine Pedersen and Janni Thomsen were quarantining as of the 2nd of the month and missed the last round. I imagine they would have missed today as well. Given a Cup final in 48 hours I'm sure the Vålerenga staff and players disappointment at the cancellation was somewhat offset by their relief (to put it mildly). And I imagine the LSK contingent were a bit disappointed at having to face them at full strength instead of half in the bag. No excuses in the outcome on the weekend now...
Brøndby are saying they have been told by UEFA the replay of the abandoned first leg in Oslo will be February 14. And that the second leg in Denmark will go ahead as planned next week. They also say they were told by UEFA they would lose the match if they did not show up in Oslo. And that they reluctantly boarded the plane knowing the game would be cancelled, but could not get UEFA to move the match. If what they are saying is true, the procedures need work.
I think they could have turned up without the players who were supposed to isolate. 13 is the minimum number of players needed to play the game as per the special Covid-19 regulations. On the legal, going accross frontiers while being required to isolate is a serious offense I think.
I believe the issue is a player trained with the team earlier in the week and tested positive after having that full contact training session and being in the locker room with the team after training. So the whole team needs to quarantine.
Julie Blakstad has extended her contract at Rosenborg with two more years. Good news for Toppserien. I think she has been one of the best players in Toppserien this season out on that left wing, and she is only 19. Foreign clubs have been after her, Chelsea one of them. Rosenborg in the Champions League next season contributed a fair bit in her decision to stay.