October 21, 2007: Round 26 of the Formula Division:

NSÍ Runavík win the
2007 Championship Title

NSÍ Runavík - VB/Sumba 3-1 (2-1)
1-0 Jónhard Frederiksberg
2-0 Owngoal
2-1 Marco Moravcic
3-1 Christian Høgni Jacobsen

Although VB/Sumba showed a bit more resistance than the NSÍ-supporters would have liked, NSÍ in the end won a comfortable 3-1 victory. NSÍ took an early 2-0 lead; the second thanks to a VB/Sumba owngoal. But VB/Sumba reduced the score before the half hour-mark and had by then had 3 or 4 excellent scoring opportunities that brought the best out of veteran NSÍ goalkeeper Jens Martin Knudsen, to keep VB/Sumba at bay. NSÍ looked nervous. But NSÍ were never going to throw away a championship title by slipping up against the bottom team, and 5 minutes before the end, Christian Høgni Jacobsen settled the nerves when he made it 3-1 for NSÍ.

In the end however, it wouldn't really have mattered if NSÍ won today or not, as B36 - the only team who could catch NSÍ - lost their match against EB/Streymur.

So, why did NSÍ win the championship?

Well, first of all, they have good players. – A good blend of experienced players and talented youngsters. And not to forget, in Johan Nielsen the best coach in the Faroe Islands to mix the cocktail exactly right. This was Nielsen's 12th championship title as a coach since he won his first with HB Tórshavn in 1968, with whom he won 8 titles. From 1993 to 1995 he won 3 titles with GÍ Gøta, and then had to wait 12 years before he could clinch another one today with NSÍ, although he so nearly won one with Skála in 2005 also. Maybe it's a bit odd that foreign countries are only interested in Faroese players, when they maybe could get a Faroese coach that could make much more difference in a team than a Faroese player…

NSÍ's play hasn't always been so entertaining for the neutral (although I'm sure every NSÍ supporter feels very entertained today), but they have been very well organized and disciplined and analyzing in order to cut out as many personal errors as possible.

Especially their very professional attitude has been a decisive factor for their good results, as they have only concentrated on things they do have any influence on, and not those which they cannot really influence, like protesting the referees' decisions. This attitude has made them mentally strong; a quality that again has paid reward in several late winning goals during the season.

Twice against B71, NSÍ scored the winning goal in added time. They also scored the winner against EB/Streymur in stoppage time. Against GÍ they scored the winner a minute from the final whistle. 4 minutes from time they equalized against B36. And against HB, NSÍ scored the winner 2-3 minutes from the end.

After winning their first 3 games of the season, NSÍ seemed to enter some kind of a mini-crisis as they seemed to have it difficult on away soil, losing 3 away matches in a row. But after beating GÍ away from home in round 8, NSÍ went from strength to strength and lost only 1 more match all season. When you have that that kind of consistency, then you have championship material.

And that's why NSÍ won the championship title today, because they have simply been the best team!

Congratulations to NSÍ!

EB/Streymur - B36 Tórshavn 4-2 (2-2)
1-0 Hanus Eliasen
2-0 Hanus Eliasen
2-1 Fróði Benjaminsen
2-2 Amed Davy Sylla
3-2 Arnbjørn Hansen
4-2 Karoly Potemkin

EB/Streymur took a 2-0 lead after only 18 minutes after a brace from Hanus Eliasen. But B36 made a great comeback and leveled the score before halftime. B36 continued to pressure EB/Streymur in the second half, but midway through it, EB/Streymur worked their way back into the match, and restored the lead after 75 minutes with a goal from Arnbjørn Hansen. In the dying minutes, EB/Streymur added a 4th goal to their tally. This means that EB/Streymur still have the chance to end as runners up, but for that to happen, they must beat B71 Sandoy away from home next Sunday, while B36 at the same time must not beat HB. Then the 2nd spot is EB/Streymur's and B36 end in 3rd spot. Otherwise it will be vice versa.

B36 have now only won 1 of their last 4 matches, and this poor form at the end of the season cost them the championship. In the end, B36's game plan was probably too simple to last all the way. Basically, their game-plan was to have a tight defense, and then let their Ivorian talisman and Formula Division top scorer Amed Davy Sylla take care of their attacking game.

HB Tórshavn - KÍ Klaksvík 1-1 (0-0)
0-1 Símun Joensen
1-1 Andrew av Fløtum

HB had the first effort on goal when Tór-Ingar Akselsen's brilliant through-ball played Rógvi Jacobsen clear outside the penalty area, but Rógvi's shot was well over the goal. Although he was pressured by a defender, he ought to have done better. It often seems as Faroese players only concentrate on hitting the ball itself, and not the target also, with the end result that the shots fly high over the goal. Too many Faroese players lack fundamental shooting-technique.

But KÍ's Heðin á Lakjuni's shooting technique seemed to be ok when he drove a flat shot towards goal from long range, but Tróndur Vatnhamar in the HB-goal just managed to divert the ball around the post, although a bit awkwardly.

KÍ were also close to taking the lead shortly before half time, but the header from Kaj Ennigarð was saved on the line.

But generally, HB was the better team in the first half, but several chances were squandered. Mortan úr Hørg should have scored on his chance when he had the goal at his mercy, and once KÍ's goalkeeper Meinhardt Joensen made a double save from Andrew á Fløtum and Rógvi Jacobsen. – Although the saves were good, either should have scored.

10 minutes into the second half, HB should have taken the lead when Tór-Ingar Akselsen played Andrew av Fløtum clear in the penalty area, a bit to the left, but the keeper made a “spread eagle” to block the shot out for a corner. Akselsen again played a very good match for HB; one of very few HB players who have given their all lately. – Since he started playing with a red boot on his left foot and a white on his right, he's been in superb form.

But instead it was KÍ who took the lead shortly after, when HB didn't clear a corner properly, and after a scramble, Símun Joensen got the goal for KÍ.

KÍ should have made it 2-0 when Heðin á Lakjuni was one on one with HB's goalkeeper, but the goalkeeper just managed to block the shot with his leg.

However, it was HB who had the majority of possession in the second half also, but the chances that were created were all missed. Until the 86th minute, when Andrew a Fløtum scored from close range, after a rebound from Mortan úr Hørg's initial header.

With the draw, HB must wave goodbye to the bronze medals which was the best position they could hope to reach, but now they will end the season in 4th spot. But really, judging from HB's latest matches, most of the players don't care a bit if they become no. 3 or 4. Only 1st place is interesting for them.

Next Saturday, last day of the season, HB play against neighbors B36. B36 still have the silver medals to play for, and if EB/Streymur beat B71, then B36 must beat HB if B36 want to hold on to the silver. Otherwise EB/Streymur will snatch the silver medals.

GÍ Gøta - Skála 5-0 (3-0)
1-0 Hans Jørgen Djurhuus
2-0 Christian Lundberg
3-0 Sam Jacobsen
4-0 Christian Lundberg
5-0 Hendrik Rubeksen

This was yet another one of those matches with no real importance, and where at least one team didn't want to be on the pitch. This was GÍ's only 3rd home-win of the season. Away from home, GÍ have won 7 times. Christian Lundberg scored 2 of GÍ's goals today, which takes his tally to 11 in his 10 matches for GÍ, since he joined them in round 17. With a last-day match against VB/Sumba, GÍ look set to end in 5th place in the table. That is the best they could have hoped for, as they don't have material for better.

AB Argir - B71 Sandoy 0-1 (0-0)
0-1 Símin Hansen

And the same with this match: 2 teams with limited motivation, where B71 was the better team – maybe because they were "less less limited motivated", to put it like that. Maybe because B71 can still reach 5th spot, if other results go their way next Saturday. But B71 can be satisfied with their season. They survived, which was their main objective. – But in addition to that, they have played a major role in deciding the championship, as they have beaten 3 of the top 4 teams (HB twice). – And they still have a match left against EB/Streymur; a match EB/Streymur must win if they are to win the silver medals. The only top-4 team which won all 3 matches against B71 was NSÍ! – But as mentioned above, in two of those matches, NSÍ had to score in stoppage time to get the 3 points. And NSÍ was also the only team to beat B71 in all 3 matches, so maybe it’s only fitting, that NSÍ won the title…