– I just sat and waited for me to be slaughtered. Damn filler! It’s not just football, there’s so much more, says a tearful John Arne Riise to news. Because in the most dramatic way possible, Avaldsnes secured the opportunity to play in the Toppserien next season. – It means so damn much! It’s nice to say up yours! There have been ten losses in a row, there have been 10-0 losses. The girls, that mentality, my team, those substitutions, Viktoria coming in and scoring two goals… It’s the best feeling in the world, Riise said. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news – I won’t hide that it was not positive to lose ten games in a row. It does something to the self-esteem. But the girls are learning all the time, and I was born optimistic.. The team around has tried to lift them up every day. And once it has gone our way in overtime. Avaldsnes were 1-0 down until just over a quarter of an hour remained in the match. But a draw was not enough for the team from Karmøy, who needed three points. In overtime, the team fought to score the decisive goal that secures a qualification place. – It’s a shame it’s Sunday, because otherwise I would have gone straight to drunkenness, says Riise. WILL JUBILE: Watch John Arne Riise storm the pitch after the 2-1 score. – World-class coaching Riise and Avaldsnes got off to a nightmare start. After just one minute, the away team took the lead. Ragne Svastuen hit a well-struck free kick into the box. Synne Masdal was strongest there and pushed Røa into the lead. Avaldsnes created some dangers, but struggled to threaten Røa’s goalkeeper. – It’s clear, when it’s 1-0 and there are about ten minutes left in the game, you don’t believe you’re going to score two goals, says Riise SO DARK LOOKING: John Arne Riise wasn’t very happy in the first half against Røa . Photo: Elise Pedersen / news Riise made Viktoria Sørensen ready from the bench, and he should be happy about that. The 18-year-old entered after 62 minutes. – With Viktoria on the pitch, you know what you’re getting, Riise said at the press conference. – I wanted her to go into duels, win second balls and throw herself in front of everything that was there. About a quarter of an hour before the end, Sørensen appeared and grabbed the equaliser. Riise moved more and more players forward to create pressure in Røa’s box, and five minutes into overtime he was paid. Sørensen appeared again and sent all of Karmøy into the sky. – I hardly have words. This is a dream come true, said the match winner to news. – I have never experienced such a good atmosphere in the team before, she says. – We gambled at the end. What are they saying? World-class coaching! says a grinning Riise. – They are not the most beautiful goals she has scored, but they are certainly the two most important. JOYFUL: Riise, Riise, Riise! Shouted the players as John Arne Riise wiped away tears. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news Nervous minutes Avaldsnes did not have their fate in their own hands before the match. In addition to having to beat Røa, they depended on TIL 2020 not beating Lyn. Even though Avaldsnes decided as late as possible against Røa, TIL 2020 was not finished when the referees blew the whistle on Karmøy. – I didn’t know how the position was in the second game. I told the speaker that he should only inform about scores for Lyn. So after Lyn took the lead, I heard no more. After endless cheering, Riise went and only looked down at the phone to check the result for TIL 2020, and when the announcer announced that the match was over, emotions got the better of Avaldsnes. So strong that Riise received a yellow card. – I had no control over my emotions. The yellow card was one of the clearest I have received, said Riise. – As a player, you are mostly responsible for yourself. As a coach, you are responsible for so much more – the whole team, the support staff, the whole club. I want to say that this joy is something I have never known before, and it is a joy the girls deserve. Now he will let the girls enjoy that feeling for a couple of days, then there is full focus on two extremely important matches. – There are two qualifiers left, and we will be tough against Øvrevoll, but now there is a great atmosphere, says Riise. ELLEVILLE JUBILEE SCENES: It all took off when Avaldsnes saved the match. Photo: Elise Pedersen / news Proud history After two seasons at the second highest level, Avaldsnes moved up to the Toppserien in 2012. With a local investor who invested heavily in the team, the team surprised the team and finished fourth in their first season at the top level. In addition, they made it to a cup final that year. The club stuck to the top and won its first medal in 2015. The following year the team played in the Champions League, and had a visit from Lyon with Ada Hegerberg in the lead, at Karmøy. However, the highlight came in 2017, when Avaldsnes beat Vålerenga in the cup final and won their first trophy. The adventure is not over yet. Now Øvrevoll/Hosle await in the battle for the last place in the Toppserien.
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John Arne Riise and Avaldsnes saved qualification place – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
