(Viking – Sarpsborg 1–0) Viking created a flurry of chances on their own turf. But an own goal was needed to secure three points for the dark blues.
Stavanger
Monday 1 April at 22:05
Not since November 2022 had Viking gone into the break with a lead at home.
That streak was broken three minutes before the break:
Zlatko Tripic launched a counterattack – before playing free an onrushing Lars-Jørgen Salvesen. The southerner aimed at Sander Svendsen in front of goal, but instead an unlucky Sander Christiansen dealt with the ball in his own goal.
– I got into a broken situation where it is difficult to clear up, says Christiansen to TV 2. The Bergen resident regrets that he did not get a yellow card when he had a chance to stop Tripic in the run-up to the decision.
Own goal scored.
– Incredibly delicious, says Tripic to VG. But the Viking captain is not satisfied with everything.
– We are not careful enough in the last third. We could and should have created more chances, says Tripic. He missed more “ice cream in his stomach”.
– We know that our performance will have to improve when we meet Bodø/Glimt and Brann in the next matches, says Viking coach Morten Jensen and calls the victory deserved.
– We are making a weak effort. Viking is a good team, but for large parts of the match it feels like we are not preparing to play the ball forward, but backwards. I’m not going to say we’re hiding, but we’re definitely not playable. We are in position, but do not have a body language that says we want the ball, says an irritated Stefan Billborn in an interview with TV 2. The Sarpsborg coach calls the failure a “mental question”.
Stefan Johansen did not play for Sarpsborg. Jo Inge Berget made a comeback in Norwegian football after 10 years, but had to leave at halftime.
– We knew a little and chose not to take any chances, says Berget to VG.
Viking was close to 2–0 on several occasions in the second half – with great chances for both Tripic and Salvesen – without scoring.
In overtime, Sarpsborg came close to stealing a point when Henrik Meister came alone with the goalkeeper – but Patrik Gunnarsson saved the attempt from the young Dane.
Viking is thus fighting back after a disappointing end to the previous season, which reached a low point with a 1–5 loss to Rosenborg in the last round of the series.
Sondre Bjørshol had to leave with an injury after just three minutes. It is confirmed that he has sustained a thigh injury.
– Very sad for Sondre. We consider him to be the Eliteserien’s best right-back, says coach Morten Jensen.
Viking captain Zlatko Tripic was not happy in the dress rehearsal against Rosenborg:
