Big win for Arna-Bjørnar, their heroics last weekend have awoke a sleeping giant. Emilie Naitnes and Maria Brochmann with a pair a piece in a statement over Sandviken and separating them from the drop zone by a healthy margin.
For the relegation battle, the other teams didn't lose by five but nonetheless came away empty handed as well.
Medkila fought their way back to a split, but for the second week in a row lose in the 90th minute. This time to Marthe Enlid, Trondheim's late game sub.
Amazon Grimstad had Marit Fiane Grødum back but go down 2-3 to Stabæk on a pair by Melissa Bjånesøy. A big win for Stabæk as well, pushing them out of danger and getting them to .500 with an even number of wins, losses and ties (3-3-3).
Three teams in the league battling with one win a piece (Sandviken, Amazon Grimstad and Medkila). After a couple of playoff defenses against first division teams to stay up, the odds would be good for the second-last Toppserien team again this year (against what looks like Grand Bodø or Urædd). But one of the three will suffer the slings and arrows with no second chance.
Key dates:
Aug 29: Amazon Grimstad hosts Medkila
Sep 05: Medkila hosts Sandviken
Sep 26: Amazon Grimstad hosts Sandviken
After that it's five rounds to the finish line where it gets harder for them to grab points, especially for Amazon Grimstad who close out the season with a run that will be hard to take anything from.
Medkila: Klepp, Røa, Vålerenga, Arna-Bjørnar, Trondheims-Ørn
Sandviken: Avaldsnes, Klepp, Røa, Vålerenga, Arna-Bjørnar
Amazon Grimstad: Trondheims-Ørn, Avaldsnes, Kolbotn, Klepp, Stabæk
Avaldsnes hold on to a Rosana goal in the 53' minute to get past Vålerenga on the turf in the Valhall in Oslo. Couple of late game subs to kill the clock. You would think Guro Pettersen would have had a busy day today. Yoreli Ricon got about 20 minutes work today. Avaldsnes now have a local four-day double-header with the hot Arna-Bjørnar Bears, at home Tuesday in the Cup and then in Bergen on the weekend in league. After that they run Trondheims-Ørn, Klepp, Kolbotn, Stabæk and LSK. That run will likely determine the champion.
Kolbotn leveled against LSK after 53', but LSK got the match-winner 15 minutes from time and Haavi added another 30m chip late which no doubt while Kolbotn was pressing for the equalizer. Kolbotn with two debutantes today, Fanny Andersson with her 50+ Swedish caps and Cambria Danielle Privett from UCLA Irvine. Applause today at Sofiemyr Stadium for Kolbotn's victorious youth teams as they received their trophies and flowers at half-time. Wonderful way to do it.
The game log say's LSK were completely deserving with a couple of crossbars as well. It also say's Andrine Tomter had an impressive comeback today and no doubt. She has impressive match mentality.
LSK are away on the grass at Nadderud next weekend but it's sandwiched by a pair against Amazon Grimstad. Tuesday away in Cup and the following weekend home in league.
LSK is the only team to have lost just a single match.
Røa in their temporary home at Ullerbannen find the net for four times the first time this season and with four different goalscorers, including Inger Katrine Bjerke with her second in as many games. Good timing for things clicking as the commanding win usurps Klepp in the medal standings. Not a good start for Klepp going down 0-1 on 10 minutes and then 0-2 on 25.
Sarpsborg surprisingly in the cellar of the first division. Wasn't long ago they were in a U19 final was it? Against Grand Bodø and the Jensen twins? Everyone must have flown the coop or been plucked from the nest.