May 20, 2007: Round 10 of the Formula Division:

Poor HB Tórshavn downed by GÍ Gøta for the second time this season

GÍ Gøta - HB Tórshavn 3-2 (2-0)
1-0 Sverri Jacobsen
2-0 Poul Ennigarð
2-1 Christian Høgni Jacobsen
3-1 Pól Jóhannus Justinussen
3-2 Hans á Lag

Once again, HB's miserable defense cost them victory. And maybe the coaches are to blame this time as well, as they (again) had changed the back-four, which otherwise have held 2 clean sheets in succession before this match. This time central defender Hans á Lag, who is HB's only defender who is strong with the head, was left on the bench, and that was asking for troubles, because the statistics says that out of 10 goals that GÍ score at home against HB, 9 of them are headers! Well, those are not official statistics, but only from "selective memory", and maybe the number has been rounded up just a little bit too.

But it didn't take long for GÍ to "confirm" these statistics. About 20 minutes into the first half, a GÍ free kick on the center of the HB-half was taken to Atli Gregersen on the right, and he crossed the ball in front of goal, where HB's defenders just looked on while Sverri Jacobsen unhindered headed the ball into the goal.

And around 10 minutes later later, HB's defense was again just passively watching the ball, which from a corner landed at the feet of Poul Ennigarð who poked it in for a 2-0 lead.

HB showed nothing at the other end and their play seemed unstructured. Jákup á Borg did not play for HB today, but HB ought to be able to miss one man and still perform. – Most other teams can.

But take nothing away from GÍ, who defended well and made it difficult for HB's midfield to get anything going.

Maybe HB created about 2 half chances throughout the first half; that was it. Actually GÍ were nearer to make it 3, than HB 1. In one incident the ball bounced off the crossbar and behind the goal. That could just as well have been 3-0.

HB made a couple of changes at the start of the second half; Hans á Lag substituted Pól Thomas Dam in central defense, and Emil N. Leifsson took Tór-Ingar Akselsen's place as left back, and Tór-Ingar was instead mowed forward and replaced Páll Mohr Joensen who was substituted.

Early in the second half, HB were given a lifeline when Tór-Ingar Akselsen went to the byline and made a perfect cross to Christian Høgni Jacobsen who steered the ball into the goal.

However, GÍ quickly restored their two-goal cushion, when a free Pól Jóhannus Justinussen at the far post headed (of course) the perfect cross from the right into the goal.

HB's frustration grew and it didn't help when they were down to 10 men after Miljan Kuljic was shown the red card - His second red this season. He must learn to behave!

And really, HB never really looked as they were going to force an equalizer. At best, they created 1 or 2 tense moments in GÍ's penalty area, but not clear cut opportunities.

At the other end GÍ went close with a direct free kick, but goalkeeper Marcin david reacted quickly and tipped the ball over the bar.

But about 5 minutes from the end, HB were given another lifeline – this time by the referee – as he awarded HB with a penalty after Christian Høgni Jacobsen went down in the penalty area. – But it looked more than playacting than anything else.

And justice was probably done, when GÍ's goalkeeper Geza Turi saved Rógvi Jacobsen's poorly taken penalty.

In the very last second of the match, HB got a late consolation-goal after a corner. The goal was credited to Hans á Lag.

With the 3 points, GÍ climbed up to 5th place, while HB stay in 4th. But the gap to the leaders EB/Streymur, which HB had closed to only 4 points by beating EB/Streymur emphatically on Monday, grew to 7 points again, as EB/Streymur won over AB Argir. And also B36 Tórshavn and NSÍ Runavík in 2nd and 3rd took full advantage of HB's loss today, by beating VB/Sumba and Skála.

And now it must be regarded as questionable if HB can retain the title this season, because it's unlikely that all of those other 3 will falter. If one or two do, then it's likely the 3rd will just go on and claim the title.

There are still 17 matches left to make up ground, so it's not impossible, but it'll be mighty difficult…

All the results from round 10:

GÍ Gøta - HB Tórshavn 3-2 (2-0)
1-0 Sverri Jacobsen
2-0 Poul Ennigarð
2-1 Christian Høgni Jacobsen
3-1 Pól Jóhannus Justinussen
3-2 Hans á Lag

AB Argir - EB/Streymur 1-2 (0-1)
0-1 John Heri Dam
1-1 Hendrik Rubeksen
1-2 Bárður Olsen

B36 Tórshavn - VB/Sumba 2-0 (2-0-1)
1-0 Amed Davy Sylla
2-0 Amed Davy Sylla

Skála - NSÍ Runavík 0-1 (0-1)
0-1 Hjalgrím Elttør

B71 Sandoy - KÍ Klaksvík 3-3 (1-2)
0-1 Paul Clapson
0-2 Heðin á Lakjuni
1-2 Flavio
2-2 Símun Hansen
3-2 Símun Hansen
3-3 Erling Fles