Vålerenga had to have points to avoid their first relegation in 23 years. Tromsø needed a win to secure silver in the Eliteserien and guaranteed European play next season. Frost smoke, floodlights and down to -16 effective degrees: The perfect scene for drama in the very last round of the season. And there was going to be drama. It really lit up ten minutes into the second half, when Tromsø stopper Christophe Psyché saved a Vålerenga finish on the line. The replay, which was shown on the big screen at the stadium, showed that Psyché headed the ball into his own arm. But where the frustration was great among the Vålerenga players, it turned into euphoria five minutes later. Then Andrej Ilic headed Vålerenga into the lead after a corner kick. For a long time it looked like it would be the only goal of the match, but three minutes into overtime Tromsø equalised. Tromsø chased a decisive score in the final minutes, but it did not come. And thus it was bronze for Tromsø, while Vålerenga will go into qualification against Kristiansund next week. The winner there plays in the Eliteserien next year. – It was a bit of a rollercoaster when we conceded a goal at the end. But then we heard that it was still enough to qualify, so we are happy with that. We had taken it before this match, says Vålerenga’s Petter Strand to TV 2. – We were down two rounds ago. The players have stood up in the last two games, but that’s only half the job done. We have two very tough matches against a good Kristiansund, but it is clear that it is a liberation, says sports manager Joacim Jonsson to TV 2. The sports manager continues: – We have been given an extra life. We must take care of that. We were dead and buried after the Stabæk match. We’re going down to the basement, says Jonsson. Four teams could be relegated news learned before the start of the match that no results at the stadium would be announced over the public address system. Therefore, the players on the icy pitch knew little about what happened in the other matches that would decide the relegation battle. Before the match, Vålerenga was in the relegation zone. Sandefjord was in the qualification place. Stabæk just over the line. Haugesund was on the square above. Two points separated the teams. In an otherwise chance-poor first half at Valle, it was Tromsø who looked the most dangerous in attack. Among other things, Vegard Erlien had a great opportunity after 12 minutes, but the finish from 16 meters went straight to VIF goalkeeper Magnus Sjøeng. At the same time, Stabæk was hanging on by the ropes against relegation rival Haugesund. Two feverish saves from Isak Pettersson prevented Haugesund from taking the lead. But then we were to get the first turn of the evening in the relegation battle. 40 minutes: Lillestrøm player Thomas Lehne Olsen gave rival VIF a blow in the stomach. He tripped Sandefjord player Jakob Dunsby on his way out of the field. Sandefjord received a penalty. It put Alexander Ruud Tveter in the goal. Sandefjord thus climbed to safe ground with Haugesund. Stabæk was pushed down in the qualifying round. Vålerenga was still hopelessly placed in the relegation zone. Vålerenga coach Geir Bakke looks nervously at the game that would decide the club’s fate Photo: NTB – I think there are two teams that are struggling a bit to let loose properly. At least we have to try that in the second half, said Vålerenga’s Henrik Bjørdal during the break to TV 2. It turned out to be pure words for the money. Vålerenga had acquired a completely different kind of passion and desperation about their behavior after the rest. Then we had a new dispute in the bottom battle: 62 minutes: The home team pressed on and created several great opportunities. It resulted in a corner. Fredrik Oldrup Jensen headed the ball towards goal, TIL goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard could only box the ball further into the field. Waiting at the back, as so many times before, was Andrej Ilic. He rose to the air and headed in 1-0 in front of thousands of euphoric home supporters. At that time, coach Geir Bakke was out on the pitch and jumped in the air. 74 minutes: With both Vålerenga and Sandefjord in the lead, Stabæk were sent down to direct relegation. They thus needed to score against Haugesund, but instead it was Martin Samuelsen who scored for Haugesund. Two minutes later, Bilal Njie added to make it 2-0. Thus, the place looked secure for Haugesund, while Stabæk needed a miracle in the final minutes. 90 minutes: In overtime, Jakob Napoleon Romsaas scored for Tromsø. However, 1-1 in Oslo did not change anything for the teams – Vålerenga will qualify, while Tromsø won bronze. Have to qualify Vålerenga was last relegated in 2000, when they lost the qualification against Sogndal on away goals. Since then, there has been both league gold (in 2005) and a couple of cup golds (2002 and 2008), but the last few seasons have largely been characterized by positions in the middle of the table. The Oslo club started the season with Dag-Eilev Fagermo as coach, but on 12 June the news came that he was done with the club. One month later, Vålerenga surprised all of Fotball-Norge when Geir Bakke was hired as Fagermo’s replacement. Bakke then came from his job as coach for Vålerenga’s arch-rival, Lillestrøm. But neither Fagermo nor Bakke has made it swing in 2023. The problems have been especially big at home, where Vålerenga stood with only nine points in 14 games before the last round. On Sunday, there was one point for Vålerenga, and thus there will be qualifying matches for Vålerenga next week, against Kristiansund. The qualification is played over two matches, with Kristiansund having a home match on 6 December, before ending with a home match for Vålerenga on 10 December.
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Vålerenga avoided direct relegation due to a better goal difference – must qualify – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
