June 16 & 17, 2007: Round 13 of the Formula Division:
Late NSÍ Runavík goal sends HB Tórshavn crashing and NSÍ to the top, but equal on points with EB/Streymur who beat KÍ Klaksvík.

June 16, 2007:

NSÍ Runavík - HB Tórshavn 1-0 (0-0)
1-0 Jann Martin Mortensen

HB's chances of retaining the championship title were dealt a severe blow, as they lost the match against NSÍ in the dying minutes. HB now trail NSÍ and EB/Streymur by 8 points and the gap will also be 8 points up to B36, if they beat AB Argir on Sunday.

For HB, Jákup á Borg was out (injured probably) and Rókur av Fløtum Jespersen started on the bench. In goal, Tróndur Vatnhamar had replaced Polish goalkeeper Marcin David.

NSÍ was the better team in the first half and showed a few glimpses of good and attractive soccer, using the whole width of the pitch.

However, HB had the first real go at goal, when Christian Høgni Jacobsen 10 minutes into the match raced from his defenders, but Jens Martin Knudsen blocked the shot at the near post.

Five minutes later, NSÍ had a couple of scoring opportunities. Jónhard Frederiksberg was played through in center of goal, but he placed his shut wide of the right post when he ought to have scored.

Also Sjúrður Jacobsen had a good opportunity. With a dribble into the penalty area, he was in a good position to score, but Tróndur Vatnhamar in the HB goal blocked the shot.

Jóhan Troest Davidsen also went close for NSÍ, but his shot from the edge of the penalty area, a bit to the left, went close by the top corner at the far post.

About half an hour into the match, HB almost took the lead when Rógvi Jacobsen set up Christian Høgni Jacobsen who was completely clear in front of goal, but half a meter from the goal-line, Jacobsen headed the ball over and wide. – Should have been a goal for Jacobsen against his former teammates!

The NSÍ supporters appreciated their former top-scorer's miss and sang: "Christian is ours, Christian Høgni is ours"…

But this only spurred on Christian Høgni even more, and the minute after, he broke through the NSÍ defense, but was brought down just outside the penalty area when he was destined to go through and score… Tór-Ingar Akselsen struck the free kick hard and flat, but it was straight on Jens Martin Knudsen in the NSÍ goal.

In the second half, it was HB who had the edge, but their finishing never really bothered the NSÍ keeper. Christian Høgni Jacobsen was in a good position twice in the penalty area, but on both occasions, he made one dribble too many and lost the ball instead of shooting when he still had the opportunity.

But then, with only 2-3 minutes remaining, NSÍ snatched the winner after a brilliant run from Einar Hansen on the left hand side. He started his run halfway on the HB half, near the touchline; got past 2 defenders, made a flat cross which Jann Martin Mortensen slotted into the back of the net.

In a last gasp effort, HB sent defender Hans á Lag forward, but to no avail. – First, á Lag received a yellow card for a late challenge on goalkeeper Jens Martin Knudsen (who also knows exactly how to look hurt – but it was still a free kick), and just moments later, á Lag was given a direct red card for, according to the referee, retaliation.

However, even though HB lost, this was probably HB's best defensive display of the season, as they mostly dealt very well with everything that NSÍ threw at them – except the goal at the end, of course. Tróndur Vatnhamar who was in goal today, but who has otherwise been reserve goalkeeper so far for Marcin David, who hasn't lived up to the expectations, will probably retain his place between the posts next time, as he played a good match and communicated much better with his defense than the very quiet David.

After NSÍ early in the season showed some signs that they had problems getting results from games against some of the top teams, NSÍ now seem to have improved and must be considered real candidates for the championship. – And really, at the moment, they are probably a better bet that EB/Streymur, who are not too convincing at the moment (but that might change when Sorin Anghel returns). Their main rivals will therefore be B36, who will reclaim top spot on Sunday, if they beat AB Argir. But only on goal difference, as B36, NSÍ and EB/Streymur will all be equal on 28 points.

As for HB, they have it all to do – once again. They have been doing catch up all season, and when ever they have closed the gap to 3-5 points, it seems to grow to 7-8 in the very next match. If B36 win against AB Argir on Saturday, then HB will trail 3 teams, B36, NSÍ and EB/Streymur with 8 points. That will be almost impossible to make up at this stage of the season. – HB have only 14 games left. And surely, not all of the top 3 are going to drop too many points from now. HB's chances of retaining the title are looking more and more slim…

EB/Streymur - KÍ Klaksvík 2-1 (2-0)
1-0 Arnbjørn Hansen
2-0 John Heri Dam
2-1 Leon Bjartalíð

EB/Streymur more or less killed the game with two goals midway through the first half; the first a header from Arnbjørn Hansen, who scored his second goal in his second game in the league this season, after having been out with a broken foot since before the league started. Arnbjørn Hansen, 21, is one of the most exciting finishers in the Faroes for a long time. KÍ improved in the second half but didn't score until the end of the match. KÍ now hasn't won in 6 matches in a row, and as VB/Sumba and AB Argir seem to be improving, KÍ could soon find themselves in real troubles. EB/Streymur's attack has been very much hampered by the absence of strikers Arnbjørn Hansen and Sorin Anghel (the second has been out for 6 matches), but as Arnbjørn has now returned, and Anghel will do the same soon, EB/Streymur will have 2 extra cylinders to fire on.

June 17, 2007:

AB Argir - B36 Tórshavn 2-1 (0-0)
0-1 Amed Davy Sylla
1-1 Rógvi Poulsen
2-1 Fróði Clementsen (Pen.)

AB have started moving since Sigfríður Clementsen took over as coach, and his specialty, organizing the defense, seems to be working. B36 had great difficulties penetrating the very compact AB defense, but just before the half hour mark of the second half, B36 finally managed to get what was expected to be the winning goal. But not so – and far from it! Because just a couple of minutes later, AB had leveled the score, and 2 minutes into stoppage time, AB snatched a dramatic winning goal on a penalty. With the 3 points, AB close the gap to KÍ on the lifesaving 8th place to just 2 points. B36, who would have taken the 1st spot in the table, if they won, drop to 3rd; 3 points behind leaders NSÍ and EB/Streymur.

GÍ Gøta - B71 Sandoy 3-2 (3-2)
1-0 Símun Louis Jacobsen
1-1 Símin Hansen
2-1 Sam Jacobsen (Pen.)
2-2 Clayton Soares
3-2 Símun Louis Jacobsen

GÍ took all points against B71 in a frantic first half which ended 3-2 to GÍ, which also was the final result. In the second half, B71 put a lot of pressure on GÍ, but GÍ held firm to the end. B71 are probably starting to get a little bit nervous, as the two bottom teams are slowly climbing the table.

Skála - VB/Sumba 1-1 (0-1)
0-1 Teitur Tausen
1-1 Slavisa Kaplanovic

VB/Sumba are not giving up without a fight and there have been signs lately that they are improving and today they took the lead 20 minutes into the first half. However, that goal was cancelled out when Slavisa Kaplanovic score for Skála 17 minutes into the second half. With the one point VB/Sumba closed the gap to KÍ Klaksvík on 8th place to 4 points.