Kolbotn eye glittering prize
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Article summary
Kolbotn IL may be struggling to retain their league title, but coach Aksel Bergo has his sights set firmly on the UEFA Women's Cup as 1. FFC Frankfurt arrive in Norway.
Article body
Cup contenders
"Our match against Umeå [IK, a narrow 2-1 defeat] in the group stage showed how good we can be at our best," said Bergo. "We gave Umeå, a team I fancy to go all the way this season, a good game and I would say that we are among the sides who can win. Our run doesn't need to stop in the quarter-finals against Frankfurt."
Second-place race
Bergo has seen SK Trondheims-Ørn open up a five-point gap at the top of the Eliteserien with three games to go, and appears to have all but conceded the title as the leaders have a relatively straightforward title run-in. To compound matters for Kolbotn, second place is by no means assured as Røa IL are level with them on points and Arna-Bjørnar lie just a point behind. Kolbotn passed the first test of nerves at the weekend, however, overcoming Team Strømmen 4-1 thanks to two goals from Tonje Hansen and further strikes from Norwegian internationals Ingvild Stensland and Solveig Gulbrandsen.
Stensland influence
Midfielder Stensland has developed into Kolbotn's most influential player over recent months and has also impressed on the international stage. Stensland was among the Kolbotn contingent in the FIFA Women's World Cup-bound Norway side which completed their qualifying programme with a 2-1 win in Italy. Kolbotn's other representatives included Trine Rønning, Ane Stangeland Horpestad and Camilla Hammerø Huse.
