So... today marked the last round in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, or the top series in football. The series had been won 12 years in a row by Rosenborg (from Trondheim), usually by a ton of points each year, but this time was different.
They were tied before this last round with Vålerenga (Oslo), which has been quite a rocket this year after barely being able to stay in the top series last season. The points were equal between them (both at 45), and the goal-differences were almost the same, with Rosenborg having scored one more goal. Vålerenga had the upper hand anyway, though, with a great fall-season, while Rosenborg had a really lousy fall, losing left and right, and eventually firing their coach, Ola By Rise (Rosenborg's goalkeeper for hundreds of years) just a couple of weeks ago.
Both teams had to win this round in order to have a chance at the top spot. Rosenborg and Vålerenga have the two most dedicated and noisy fanbases in Norwegian football too, so no matter what happened, good times were guaranteed. Rosenborg at home at Lerkendal Stadion against Lyn (another Oslo-team), and Vålerenga also at home, at Ullevaal Stadion against Stabæk (yet another Oslo-team).
It started perfectly for Vålerenga, with a 1-0 lead in the first half. Rosenborg went to the pause with 0-0. If the results stayed, Vålerenga would win the series for the first time in 30 years. Then, the second half started, and after fifteen minutes, Rosenborg scored twice! Rosenborg leads the series again! Of course, Lyn scores just seconds after, and Rosenborg and Vålerenga suddenly share the exact same amount of points and scored goals. They both have to score again.
And score, they do. First Rosenborg. 3-1! Vålerenga must net at least twice now if they want to bag the gold. 10 minutes left, and that's just what they do! 3-0 to Vålerenga, Oslo explodes, and Vålerenga is first again. Rosenborg gets the result over the loudspeakers, and start shaking in their foundations, playing badly and missing simple passes... until Frode Johnsen, in his 300th match for Rosenborg, scores his third goal for the day five minutes before the end, a real hat-trick, and gives Rosenborg the one goal they need. Insane! The Rosenborg-match ends, and everyone on the team scrambles to watch the remaining four minutes of the Vålerenga-match on a tv by the sideline. Vålerenga pushes and pushes, and comes millimeters from scoring in a one-on-one situation... Stabæk's keeper gets a finger on the ball, and gets it away. Then the match ends. And Rosenborg is the Norwegian champion AGAIN for the 13th time in a row
It's just great... Rosenborg has so many sympathetic players. Nice way to end for the coach too, since he just got fired from the job! They really deserve this. After all, Rosenborg is the only Norwegian team capable of messing with the big European teams in the Champion's League once in a while
It's also fun because I know two guys, one a Vålerenga-nut, and another a total Rosenborg-freak. This last one attends all of Rosenborg's home-matches. He's a bit fragile, so I can't even begin to understand what this evening's barrage of downs and ups must have done to him He's probably crying his heart out right now
Frode Johnsen, hero extraordinaire right now.
They were tied before this last round with Vålerenga (Oslo), which has been quite a rocket this year after barely being able to stay in the top series last season. The points were equal between them (both at 45), and the goal-differences were almost the same, with Rosenborg having scored one more goal. Vålerenga had the upper hand anyway, though, with a great fall-season, while Rosenborg had a really lousy fall, losing left and right, and eventually firing their coach, Ola By Rise (Rosenborg's goalkeeper for hundreds of years) just a couple of weeks ago.
Both teams had to win this round in order to have a chance at the top spot. Rosenborg and Vålerenga have the two most dedicated and noisy fanbases in Norwegian football too, so no matter what happened, good times were guaranteed. Rosenborg at home at Lerkendal Stadion against Lyn (another Oslo-team), and Vålerenga also at home, at Ullevaal Stadion against Stabæk (yet another Oslo-team).
It started perfectly for Vålerenga, with a 1-0 lead in the first half. Rosenborg went to the pause with 0-0. If the results stayed, Vålerenga would win the series for the first time in 30 years. Then, the second half started, and after fifteen minutes, Rosenborg scored twice! Rosenborg leads the series again! Of course, Lyn scores just seconds after, and Rosenborg and Vålerenga suddenly share the exact same amount of points and scored goals. They both have to score again.
And score, they do. First Rosenborg. 3-1! Vålerenga must net at least twice now if they want to bag the gold. 10 minutes left, and that's just what they do! 3-0 to Vålerenga, Oslo explodes, and Vålerenga is first again. Rosenborg gets the result over the loudspeakers, and start shaking in their foundations, playing badly and missing simple passes... until Frode Johnsen, in his 300th match for Rosenborg, scores his third goal for the day five minutes before the end, a real hat-trick, and gives Rosenborg the one goal they need. Insane! The Rosenborg-match ends, and everyone on the team scrambles to watch the remaining four minutes of the Vålerenga-match on a tv by the sideline. Vålerenga pushes and pushes, and comes millimeters from scoring in a one-on-one situation... Stabæk's keeper gets a finger on the ball, and gets it away. Then the match ends. And Rosenborg is the Norwegian champion AGAIN for the 13th time in a row
It's just great... Rosenborg has so many sympathetic players. Nice way to end for the coach too, since he just got fired from the job! They really deserve this. After all, Rosenborg is the only Norwegian team capable of messing with the big European teams in the Champion's League once in a while
It's also fun because I know two guys, one a Vålerenga-nut, and another a total Rosenborg-freak. This last one attends all of Rosenborg's home-matches. He's a bit fragile, so I can't even begin to understand what this evening's barrage of downs and ups must have done to him
He's probably crying his heart out right now
Frode Johnsen, hero extraordinaire right now.
