Sunday 23 February 2014

Randaberg 0 Sola 2

Pre Season Friendly, Sunday 23rd February 2014

My second game in two days was back indoors at the Randaberg Arena for a pre season friendly between two local Division Three sides, Randaberg and Sola.  The first half was not exactly full of goal mouth action but the best chances did fall to Randaberg, both free kicks whipped into the six yard box.  One invaded everyone and went wide the other hit the base of the post before bouncing clear of danger.  Sola had a couple of efforts on target, both saved easily by the keeper.  However in the 40th minute Sola grabbed the lead when a ball over the top was chased by a forward and a defender and the forward shrugged off the defenders intentions before rifling a shot across the keeper into the far corner for 1-0.   The second half almost brought an equaliser for Randaberg as after a corner was cleared towards the home sides captain he hit a first time volley back at the goal and it was well tipped over by the Sola stopper.  Then in the 62nd minute Sola grabbed a killer second when the ball fell to their centre midfielder who hit a 25 yarder which the keeper got a hand too but could only push it into the corner of the net for 2-0.  After this the game rather died as a contest as Randaberg faded away and Sola comfortably dominated possession, without really creating any chances of note as they just settled for their 2-0 lead.  Sola did have a couple of long range efforts near to full time but these didn't trouble the goal to much and the game ended 2-0 to Sola, who in the end probably deserved their win overall.
























Saturday 22 February 2014

Viking 2 Haugesund 1

Pre Season Friendly, Saturday 22nd February 2014

Well as I'm in Norway it would of been rude not to take in a pre season match between to of the local Premier Division sides in Norway.  Viking Stavanger and Haugesund played indoor's at the Randaberg Arena as of course the pitches over here are not playable right now!!!  Haugesund started the better and took the lead on 4 minutes when a mistake from Viking captain Sigurdsson allowed Christian Gytkjaer in on goal and he finished well past Ostbo to give the away side the 1-0 lead.  Viking struggled to get a foot hold in the game and Haugesund were playing the better football.  The first half in general was pretty scrappy in all honesty so it was a welcome relief to hear the half time whistle!!!  However the second half was pretty much all Viking as they took control of the contest.  They equalised on 63 minutes when a ball in from the right was acrobatically volleyed home by Bjorn Daniel Sverrisson for 1-1 and then seven minutes later it was 2-1 to Viking when a ball over the top was run onto by Yann-Erik de Lanlay and he took the ball into the area before unleashing a fantastic finish past Kristianssen for a well taken goal.  Viking closed the game out and both teams will see this as a good run out before the season eventually starts at the end of March.  Of course they will both have more pre season games to come in due course.  But in the end it was an enjoyable game to watch!!!