1 of 3Photo: BANG IN THE NET: Kristoffer Haugen’s scissor kick hits the net – no chance for the goalkeeper to stop.
(Molde – Odd 3–2 eeo) Molde won after extra innings in a highly dramatic cup match against Odd. A spectacular header from left-back Kristoffer Haugen decided the match.
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After Molde’s dramatic victory over Odd on Sunday night, it is clear who will meet whom in the quarter finals of the cup. The matches will be played next weekend:
- YMCA – Viking, March 19
- Sandnes / Ulf – Strømsgodset, 19 March
- Molde – Sarpsborg, 20 March
- Lillestrøm – Bodø / Glimt, 20 March
Romsdalsklubben turned from 1-2 to 3-2 in the extra innings with two beautiful goals signed by David Fofana and Kristoffer Haugen. The latter a fantastic scissor kick.
– When it comes to such a perfect leg, I just had to try. It’s not every day you meet like that. I do not think I have even done this in training, so you can say it is a dream scoring, says Haugen to NRK.
– I hear every day how stiff I am, so they were probably surprised that I managed to pull off such a c-moment, he grins.
Earlier Sunday rolled Lillestrøm over Nardo with 4-0. Pål André Helland was absolutely central with two goals and one goal-scoring pass. One goal came on a beautiful free kick – a trademark Helland hopes to use more this season.
– It would have been nice. The audience appreciates such goals, says today’s LSK hero.
Helland and LSK seem to be in shape, even though the 3rd division team Nardo is not the best pointer. The real test comes in the quarterfinals against Bodø / Glimt.
– It’s a cool challenge. We must be offensive and not stand with the hat in hand. We must dare to play ball, he urges.
On March 17, just a few days before the cup meeting, Glimt will play an away match in the Conference League against AZ Alkmaar. Helland will ask his old Rosenborg friend Fredrik Midtsjø, who now plays for the Dutch, for a small favor.
– I will talk to Midtsjø and ask them to win with one goal, so that there will be extra innings and 120 minutes of play. But Glimt has proven to be physically strong, so I do not know how much it has to say, says the Lillestrøm player.
Last autumn, Helland was hired as a football expert by Viaplay. Among other things, the 32-year-old has been in the studio during Glimt’s European matches. It can be a useful experience before the cup settlement.
– I’ve had some thoughts. They have been almost perfect in Norwegian football in recent years, but every move has a counter-move. Nothing is impossible, says Helland.
– What thoughts have you had about Glimt?
– It would be terribly stupid of me to say that, he says secretly.
Odds Tobias Lauritsen missed a penalty kick after just eight minutes, but only three minutes later the injury was corrected. Then the guests rolled up nicely along the left edge, where Lauritsen was allowed to enter.
The ball got a slightly lucky extension towards the back post, but there Filip Rønningen Jørgensen made the easy process to 1-0.
It seemed to be the decisive goal for a long time, but eight minutes before full time Eirik Ulland Andersen strengthened the ball in the corner. Thus, the match went to extra innings.
There it was again dramatic for the home team. At the very end of the first extra inning, Gilli Rólantsson rose to the field and stabbed Odd in the lead again.
But Molde did not give up this time either. First, Fofana tricked around in the opponent’s 16-meter and equalized to 2-2. Shortly afterwards, the hill Haugen kept up with the stroke of grace.
The final of the NM will be played at Ullevaal on 1 May.
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