October 09 & 12: Round 25 of the Vodafone Division:
October 09
B71 Sandoy - KÍ Klaksvík 0-1 (0-0) 0-1 Hjalgrím Elttør
It looked like a goalless draw as the clock had elapsed 90minutes, but Hjalgrím Elttør had other ideas when he fired the ball into the back of the net after a solo run to secure KÍ’s 3rd win in a row.
With the 3 points KÍ still have the chance to catch NSÍ in the 4th place which could earn a Europa League place, but for that to happen, KÍ will have to win both of their remaining matches while NSÍ only must get 1 point from their remaining fixtures against HB (h), B36 (h) and B71 (a). – It’s an unlikely scenario.
If B71 don’t get a point in their two remaining fixtures, they will be the team with the lowest number of points since the league was expanded to 27 matches in 2005. They have 11 points now, which is the same as VB/Sumba had in 2007, but at the moment B71’s goal difference is -52 (which will grow if they don’t get a point) while VB/Sumba’s goal difference was -44.
B71’s remaining fixtures are away against EB/Streymur and at home against NSÍ Runavík.
The first half was an even affair where the action shifted between both of the penalty areas.
HB should have taken the lead after about 18 minutes when Jógvan Rói Davidsen had a free header at close range, but Andras Gango in the NSÍ goal reacted quickly on his line to deny HB and also saved well from the following rebound.
Ten minutes later it was instead NSÍ who took the lead. The HB coach was screaming on his player to press while NSÍ had the ball on their own half, when NSÍ left back Einar Hansen knocked a long ball forward and behind the HB defence where Klæmint Olsen got clear to lob over HB goalkeeper Teitur Gestsson and into the goal.
HB responded six minutes later. HB forward Hendrik Rubeksen, who has otherwise played as left back in the last couple of seasons, took advantage from indecisive defending from NSÍ right back Jónhard Justinussen with the result that the ball ended at the feat of Símun Samuelsen who got to the byline to make the cutback in to the penalty area where a HB player made a dummy before Hanus Thorleifsson fired the ball in to the back of the net for the equalizer.
It seemed as NSÍ was the more eager team after the break and had a majority of the possession, and it paid dividend within 7 minutes of the restart when HB’s defence was caught in no-man's-lands and NSÍ centre back Jens Joensen (or maybe it was from goalkeeper Gango?) played a long ball behind HB’s defence where Klæmint Olsen got clear once again to put NSÍ in front.
NSÍ held on to the possession in the first 20 minutes of the second half before they retreated and allowed HB to get closer to the goal. But HB failed to create clear-cut opportunities and Gango wasn’t really tested with a long range effort and a header, which was all HB had.
At the other hand NSÍ were much closer at increasing the lead and especially Christian Høgni Jacobsen was close as he twisted and turned his way past 3 or four HB defenders with an impressive solo run, but just to be denied by Gestsson, who had to make a couple of more saved during the second half. But Jacobsen should be ashamed of the vicious tackle he made moments earlier which forced off left back Óli Arge injured.
Although HB are 5 points clear of 07 Vestur in 9th position, HB’s relegation threat isn’t quite over yet as 07 Vestur are capable of winning their next match at home against B68 Toftir who are missing all of their usual forwards through injury. And if HB are defeated by KÍ Klaksvík, then they could be overtaken by 07 Vestur on the last day of the season if 07 Vestur beat ÍF Fuglafjørður away from home while B36 Tórshavn beat HB.
After today’s away loss, HB will be the lowest ranked away team for the season as they have only picked up 5 points on the road; 1 win and 2 draws.
B68 Toftir- ÍF Fuglafjørður 0-1 (0-1) 0-1 Dánjal á Lakjuni
ÍF scored what proved to be the winning goal within three minutes thanks to Dánjal á Lakjuni. ÍF are now mathematically safe from relegation while B68 are not. But it will need two wins from 07 Vestur in the remaining two matches. On Sunday 07 Vestur take on B68…
EB/Streymur - Víkingur 3-3 (0-1) 0-1 Bárður Hansen 0-2 Hans Jørgen Djurhuus 1-2 Hans Pauli Samuelsen 1-3 Hans Jørgen Djurhuus 2-3 Leif Niclasen 3-3 Gert Hansen
EB/Streymur title hopes were dented severely as they could only manage a draw against Víkingur.
EB/Streymur was very much the better team in the first 25 minutes and went close when Hans Pauli Samuelsen hit the top of the upright with a curled effort from the edge of the penalty area after some 10 minutes.
But eventually Víkingur worked their way into the game and took the lead a minute before half time with a deflected long range shot from right back Bárður Hansen.
The uphill battle for EB/Streymur became almost vertical when Víkingur went further into the lead with a fine hook from Hans Jørgen Djurhuus following a corner.
However, EB/Streymur were back in it when they pulled a goal back within 5 minutes when Arnbjørn Hansen set up Samuelsen for an easy finish.
But the joy was short-lived as Víkingur restored their two-goal cushion within 3 minutes when Djurhuus scored his second goal of the match with at sensational volley.
However, EB/Streymur reduced the deficit just a minute later when Leif Niclasen in two attempts forced the ball past Geza Turi in the Víkingur-goal.
EB/Streymur poured on the pressure for the rest of the second half and Arnbjørn Hansen should have equalized after 82 minutes when he had the goal at his mercy after Turi had only half-saved Sorin Anghel’s header. Hansen usually doesn’t miss those kinds of opportunities.
Two minutes into added time, Gert Hansen equalized with a header from a corner and a minute later EB/Streymut though they had scored the winner, but the referee blew his whistle for off side as the deemed Egil á Bø to have been off side. It was centimetres, if it was. But maybe á Bø did a free kick however, as he used his arms a bit too much to hold off Atli Gregersen.
As EB/Streymur had gambled in quest for the winner, it had left their defence open which gave Víkingur a couple of great opportunities.
But with only a draw, EB/Streymur’s hope of winning the title is now very slender as they drop 4 points behind B36 with only two games left of the season.
Polish striker Lukasz Cieslewicz sent B36 on winning course already in the first minute of the game as he used his speed and superb skills to break into the penalty area before he rifled past goalkeeper Hans Jørgensen and inside the far post.
07 Vestur improved midway through the half, but with a brilliant long diagonal pass Súni Olsen played Róaldur Jacobsen clear to double B36’s lead in the 39th minute. And just two minutes later, Olsen again demonstrated how superbly he controls that ball as he made it 3-0 directly on free kick.
It looked like game over, but when first Brazilian Clayton Soares pulled a goal back for 07 Vestur on the hour-mark and Jákup Olsen another one with 10 minutes remaining, B36 suddenly had a game on their hand again.
However, B36 stood the test, and as EB/Streymur only managed a draw against Víkingur, B36 now only need three points from their remaining two matches to clinch the title. Their first test is on Sunday when they visit NSÍ Runavík who have won their last two matches after a long period with countless defeats.
The irony is, however, if NSÍ lose, then they qualify for the Europa League. NSÍ will only miss out on the European spot if EB/Streymur become champions…