HamKam – Vålerenga 0-1
Vålerenga came to Briskeby full of hope of taking their sixth straight victory in the series, something they have never managed before. If they had succeeded, they would have made history.
Henrik Udahl’s cheeky chip on the eve of the first half looked for a long time to be the winning goal, but three minutes into overtime 16-year-old Benjamin Faraas appeared and secured the equalizer to unrestrained cheers from the Briskeby crowd.
See a summary of the match in the video window at the top!
The scoring was of the absurd kind.
Enkerud was played through and wrangled the ball towards the Vålerenga goal. The ball was then cleared into the head of Faraas, into the goal – and destroyed Vålerenga’s winning streak.
– Indescribable. It’s something I’ve dreamed about all my life. Doing it as a 16-year-old was a lot of fun, says Faraas to TV 2 after the match.
See the score here!
Earlier in the day, the 16-year-old was on the loop with his brother, practicing football. Faraas did not imagine that he would become decisive for HamKam.
– It was very fun. The ball just drops down and then I get my head on it. Then I hear from Enkerud that the ball went into the goal, was completely shocked and ran towards the crowd and celebrated like that!
– I’m probably going to hear it at school, so I’m looking forward to that, says Faraas with a twinkle in his eye.
– CHEERING: The HamKam players cheered after Benjamin Faraas equalised. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB
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– Can be very good
Pedersen, who has an assist on the goal, was himself 16 when he scored his first goal.
– This is something he will remember for a long time. I remember what it was like when I was 16. This is something he will take with him in the future and may want to do that little bit extra to be good.
– BRAGGING: The home team’s Marcus Pedersen speaks highly of Benjamin Faraas. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB
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– I wish him everything today, so he gets to build on that feeling and continue. He can be very good, says Pedersen about the youngster.
TV 2’s football expert Jesper Mathisen pays tribute to HamKam’s team effort.
– HamKam equalizes with what must be the least beautiful goal of the year, but what a wonderful effort well into overtime.
– Vålerenga seemed to be in full control and had chances to break the game, but Marcus Pedersen and his teammates never gave up, says Mathisen.
HamKam coach Jakob Michelsen is satisfied with the division of points at Briskeby as the match developed.
– It’s absolutely fantastic when a youngster comes in and decides on the spot. Then we should be satisfied with the one point when we score so late, says Michelsen.
Took control
It was Vålerenga who took control from the start in the evening sun at Briskeby.
A few minutes had passed when a powerful away half thought Amor Layouni had put the visitors in the lead after a corner, but the referee correctly waved offside on Vålerenga’s wing.
The game’s next big chance was provided by Henrik Bjørdal. The 25-year-old scored after a hopeless clearance from the HamKam defence, but Kamma goalkeeper Nicholas George Hagen averted the giant opportunity.
Comeback
The home team suddenly rose to the occasion with a brilliant strike by Vegard Kongsro, but VIF goalkeeper Magnus Sjøeng stood up with a brilliant save when he pushed the ball into the corner.
HamKam rose somewhat after Udahl’s scoring, but struggled to create the big dangers in the first half of the second half.
– BACK IN WHITE: Marcus Pedersen. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB
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In the 69th minute, Marcus Pedersen came on to great applause from the crowd. The move marked the start of his third Kamma stint after some troubled years as an overseas pro in Turkey.
Goalscorer Udahl also had to make way for a returning son when Torgeir Børven entered the field in the same spell, but neither he nor Pedersen were able to change the match result.
However, Faraas did, securing a 1-1 draw in the final minutes.
The case is updated with reactions from Briskeby!
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