Vålerenga victory seals progress
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Article summary
Vålerenga IF's fourth win in four carried them through the first group stage of the Royal League.
Article body
By Jan Juhlin
Vålerenga IF became the first side to book their progress from the first group stage of the Royal League after making it four wins in four Group A games against Djurgårdens IF in Stockholm.
Vålerenga victory
The Norwegian side were unable to repeat their 3-1 victory against the same opponents in the reverse fixture in December, but withstood some early pressure from the home side before Stefan Ishizaki scored the only goal of the game. The midfield player, recently signed from AIK Solna, struck an unstoppable free-kick on 44 minutes to seal his side's passage to the next round.
Sensaas strike
The side that finished ahead of them in last year's Tippeligaen, Rosenborg BK, look favourites to join them from the section after they too won 1-0 courtesy of a free-kick. Visitors Esbjerg fB looked to have earned a draw until the 78th minute when defender Ståle Stensaas curled the ball in to move Rosenborg to seven points in second place, four ahead of Esbjerg with two matches remaining, while Djurgården are now out after earning a solitary draw.
Mild double
The Swedish representatives in Group B are faring far better, however, as IFK Göteborg strengthened their hold on the section with a 3-0 win against Bröndby IF. New coach Arne Erlandsen was given the perfect start to the job as Håkan Mild scored two and Nigerian striker Peter Ijeh another as the home side raced into a three-goal lead inside 35 minutes. In the other group fixture Tromsö IL took a 2-0 lead with two goals from Kerem Essediri before Sibusiso Zuma and Alvaro Santos replied to earn FC København a point.
Swedish turnaround
The win lifted København above Bröndby in to second, three points adrift of leaders IFK. Group C remains the most open after the two Swedish sides turned the tables with two victories. Halmstad BK climbed to the top of the section after Lithuanian international Tomas Zvirgzdauskas earned a 2-1 win against the team that began the round in first, Odense BK. Malmö FF are second, a point behind after lifting themselves off the foot of the table with a 2-0 win against SK Brann.
