(Lillestrøm-Seinäjoen JK 5–2, total 6–2) “Birds are in Europe”, sang Kanarifansen after Hólmbert Fridjónsson (29) scored three goals and Lillestrøm won 5–2 at Åråsen.
Updated just now
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Two obstacles remain before the yellow and black are possibly ready for the Conference League, where Bodø/Glimt reached a sensational quarter-final last season.
Lillestrøm will first go out in the third qualifying round, and then a playoff follows before the Romans are possibly ready.
The next opponent is still not ready, but Royal Antwerp from Belgium leads 1–0 over Drita from Kosovo.
Hólmbert Fridjónsson is on loan from German Holstein Kiel and on Thursday night the Icelander scored as many goals as he has scored in total in the Eliteserien this season, which he has largely spent on the bench.
– It is my job to score goals. It means a lot for a striker to score three goals. I haven’t had that many chances this season, but I have scored a few goals, says Frijónsson at the press conference.
– We didn’t play our best game, but we win 5-2 and are still in the competition. Royal Antwerp has some world class players. On paper, they are probably a better team than us, but we can handle it, continues the Icelander.
– He is almost consistently free on every post, says expert commentator Tom Nordlie on Romerikes Blad’s broadcast.
– Fridjónsson is showing his qualities today, says Geir Bakke at the press conference.
– They gave us room, but we are far too imprecise in the passing game, says the Lillestrøm coach self-critically.
First Ifeanyi Mathew and then Fridjónsson scored for Lillestrøm in the 1st half. Both goals came after a Ylldren Ibrahimaj hit was second to last on the ball. Mathew scored after Ibrahimaj had put 45 degrees out, while the Icelander headed in 2-1 after a perfect corner.
The same Fridjónsson made it 3–1 early in the 2nd half when he shot via a Finnish player and into the goal.
Then came a lovely cross from Gjermund Åsen which Frijónsson headed down in the same direction as the ball came from.
First LSK goal
LSK was not satisfied with that. Colin Rösler scored his first goal for the club as he made it 5–1 before the Finns reduced it to 5–2 in extra time when goalkeeper Mads Christiansen was on a roll.
– We have been sloppy too much. We are lucky to be in the lead at half-time, says coach Geir Bakke to Romerikes Blad after the first half.
– We corrected a little during the break. Everyone agreed that we had to lift ourselves up, states the same Bakke at the press conference after the match is over.
Vetle Dragsnes decided the game in Finland. He was only about to become the big culprit when Diego Rojas went to the ground in the penalty area. But Jake Jervis put the penalty on the post. Then Dragsnes won the ball in the goal after a corner.
Lundemo back
Marius Lundemo (28) was presented during the break as a new LSK player. He has since 2020 played for Cypriot Apoel, when he came from Rosenborg. Lundemo played for LSK 2014-2016 and made 60 league appearances.
–– I need some time to become match fit, but I am ready, says Lundemo in an interview with Romerikes Blad during the break.
Sports manager Simon Mesfin also reveals that there is interest in several Lillestrøm players, and cannot promise that there will not be sales during the summer.
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