Vålerenga called for a penalty and burned a great chance - then Tromsø secured three points - VG

MATCH WINNER: Eric Kitolano made it 1-0 to Tromsø over Vålerenga. Photo: Rune Stoltz Bertinussen / NTB

(Tromsø – Vålerenga 1–0) Vålerenga chased their third straight victory in the Eliteserien, but on their own and tired artificial turf it was Tromsø who took three points.

Published:

Just updated

–

Thursday’s settlement between Tromsø and Vålerenga, which was actually supposed to be played on July 3, but was accelerated due to artificial turf exchange in the north, did not come a second too early for the home team. But they needed some time in the fight to find the way to the net masks.

After a first round that ended goalless, Tromsø succeeds in the 67th minute of play.

Editorial collaboration Discovery+

–

Watch the Elite Series and the OBOS League live on Discovery +

–

Lasse Nilsen put in from the right and just in front of VIF goalkeeper Kjetil Haug and a defender, Eric Kitolano came sneaking. In a nice way, he controlled the ball in the net and the home team to victory.

– It was controlled. I have been told to get in the box when we post. I’ve worked a lot with it. Then it was just a matter of getting your toe on it and seeing that it goes in, Kitolano told Discovery +.

Before Kitolano won the match, it should have been 1-0 to the guests from Oslo. Only four minutes into the second half, Aron Dønnum lasted up with a beautiful prelude inside Tromsø’s 16-meter, and served a stroke to teammate Henrik Bjørdal.

Completely unpressurized and with five meters between himself and Tromsø’s last defense, it was only for Bjørdal and wide side the ball in goal, but the 25-year-old missed the ball.

It all well summed up like this:

– Of course there must be goals. I think I’re slipping a little. It was that day today. May only forget it as soon as possible, Bjørdal said even after the match.

Thus, it ended 1-0, and no points for the guests from the south.

– I’m not happy about losing when we lose up here, a match we should take with us if we are at the level I thought after the Sandefjord match. The first round is directly weak, the second round is clearly better, but it is not fantastic, said Vålerenga’s coach Dag-Eilev Fagermo.

1 / 2

–

Photo: Rune Stoltz Bertinussen / NTB

–

That for a Vålerenga who came to the advanced match at Alfheim with two straight victories and confidence, but who was overrun in the first round.

“Gutan” delivered a cannonade of good attacks during the first 35 minutes, but apart from a shot straight into the lance on Vålerenga’s goalkeeper Kjetil Haug, there was no imminent danger for goal.

Little by little, the guests also found a foothold on the artificial turf that will soon be replaced, and just before the break, Vidar Örn Kjartansson was close by stabbing the Oslo team in the lead, but the header struck the post root.

And a few minutes earlier, Vålerenga might have had the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot. On a long ball from his own half of the field, Sahraoui intercepted it, and stormed towards the goal. In a duel with no less than three Tromsø defenders, most of all Lasse Nilsen, the VIF player went to the ground.

The contact between the two players was clear, but the referee did not blow for the penalty.

– The way it feels there and then, it feels like I am in front of him and that he grabs my arm, I do not think it is a penalty kick, Nilsen said to Discovery + during the break.