After both teams had scored on their first four penalties, Christian Borchgrevink went ahead for Vålerenga. The 24-year-old, who has been in Vålerenga since he was nine years old, was the first to miss. Seconds later, Christoffer Aasbak knocked in the goal that sent Vålerenga down to the 1st division. – Now it’s great. It’s a low point, says Borchgrevink to TV 2, who was moved to tears when he approached the Vålerenga supporters at Østblokka after the match. – It is bottomless love. When I went over there and they sang my name, it dawned on me for the first time, says Borchgrevink. – We always take care of each other. You shouldn’t worry about that, says Vålerenga coach Geir Bakke about Borchgrevink. – He cannot sit down and feel that he is the big scapegoat here. There are coaches, players and managers who are not performing well enough today, continues the VIF coach. . CRUSHED: VIF coach Geir Bakke seconds after relegation. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB The Kristiansund camp cheered ecstatically to be back in the Eliteserien after a year at level two, while the Vålerenga players wiped away tears after the club’s first relegation since 2000. – I am devastated, sad and sorry. It is the worst thing you can experience in football, says Bakke. – It is a club that obviously belongs in the Eliteserien, but you have to earn your keep on the field to play there. For Norwegian football, it is a setback to lose the big matches with Vålerenga, but they will quickly recover, says news expert Carl-Erik Torp. – Shocked. Sad. Without words. It should have been impossible. It was unfortunately possible, writes former Vålerenga coach and current football expert Lars Tjærnås on X. – We will get this team back to the Eliteserien, and I want to be part of that, says Borchgrevink. Vålerenga collapse – It’s crazy. No one had dreamed that it could be exciting. This is a fantastic example of the mental game football is. That’s what news expert Kristoffer Løkberg said just after Vålerenga had thrown away the 2-0 lead in the qualification for the Eliteserien. For Vålerenga, they had taken a long step towards a renewed contract with the two-goal victory away to Kristiansund on Wednesday, but for the Eliteserien’s weakest home team, it would turn out to be far from a safe lead in Sunday’s return match. The nervousness spread to the full in Vålerenga’s main room when Mikkel Rakneberg knocked Kristiansund into the lead with a quarter of an hour to go, and just over five minutes later you could hear a pin drop on the East Block as the 2-2 went in. Vålerenga goalkeeper Magnus Sjøeng boxed the ball straight down to Marius Broholm, who safely sent the ball into the gaping goal. COMPLETELY SILENT: The otherwise loud Vålerenga supporters became completely silent when the 2-2 goal was scored. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB – They play with confidence and risk in their game, says Løkberg about KBK. Vålerenga’s lead had been eaten up, and thus extra rounds were needed to decide which team would play in the Eliteserien in 2024. – I think it is startling how weak Vålerenga is in such an important match. It is close to a collapse and the fear of losing what they had seems to have paralyzed them, said news expert Carl-Erik Torp. Penalty drama With that, the match had already entered the series of dramatic qualifying matches for the Eliteserien. Qualifying matches in the last ten years 2023: Kongsvinger – Sandefjord 2-5 overall 2022: Brann – Jerv 4-4 eeo (11-12 penalties) 2021: Mjøndalen – Sogndal 3-2 overall 2020: Lillestrøm – Start 5-5 overall, Start moved up on away goals 2019: Aalesund – Stabæk 1-2 on aggregate 2018: Ranheim – Sogndal 1-1 eeo (6-4 penalties) 2017: Stabæk – Jerv 2-1 on aggregate 2016: Start – Jerv 4-1 on aggregate 2015: Mjøndalen – Brann 4-1 on aggregate 2014: Ranheim – Sarpsborg 08 0-3 on aggregate 2013: Sandnes Ulf – Ullensaker/Kisa 7-1 on aggregate And there was still plenty of drama left. In the 100 minutes passed, Vålerenga and Henrik Bjørdal had a great chance, but the shot from a good position was masterfully saved by KBK goalkeeper Sergine Mor Mbaye. Bjørdal was again at the center of events just before the end of the first extra period, when he lit up against Rakneberg after a tackle on the touchline. Then it completely caught fire for both teams’ camps, and the riots ended with a yellow card for both Bjørdal and Rakneberg. FULL IGNITION: The teams clashed in the extra innings. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB In the second extra period, the teams began to prepare for the penalty shootout, and Vålerenga changed goalkeepers, among other things. Out with Magnus Sjøeng, in with Jacob Storevik. Kristiansund already had experience from penalty kicks in the qualifiers, when Bryne was beaten last weekend. That time, Sean McDermott came in for Mor Mbaye in the goalkeeper’s place, but this time the latter was given the responsibility of stopping the Vålerenga penalties. He proved himself worthy of that responsibility when Christian Borchgrevink stepped forward on Vålerenga’s fifth penalty. Mbaye chose the right side and when Christoffer Aasbak scored the next penalty, Vålerenga’s relegation was a fact. TO THE ELITE SERIES: Benjamin Stokke and Kristiansund are back at the top level. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB
ttn-69
Vålerenga moves down from the Eliteserien – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
