“Mathias Christensen converts from the penalty spot to hand Aalesund the perfect start, setting the tone for an open, attack-minded contest.”
Pivotal“Elias Kristoffersen Hagen makes it 3-1 for Aalesund, extending the lead just before the half-hour mark and seemingly putting the home side firmly in control.”
Pivotal“Mathias Christensen slots home his second goal of the match to make it 5-2, appearing to kill the contest and seal what looked like a comfortable Aalesund victory.”
Pivotal“M. Grundetjern completes a brace to pull it back to 5-4, suddenly making the final twenty minutes a nervy affair for Aalesund after Vålerenga's triple substitution injection.”
Pivotal“Carl Lange fires home to make it 5-5 with five minutes remaining, completing one of the most stunning comebacks of the Eliteserien season and denying Aalesund what had looked like certain victory.”
Pivotal
Aalesund
Vålerenga
Outstanding performance
Vålerenga•AttackerAalesund raced into a commanding 5-2 lead by the 56th minute, buoyed by an early penalty from Mathias Christensen, a quickfire double from Marcus Haagensen Reed and Elias Kristoffersen Hagen either side of halftime, and Christensen's second of the evening. At that point, Aalesund appeared to be coasting despite controlling just 32 percent of possession — their clinical edge on the counter, launching seven such attacks against Vålerenga's four, made up for their statistical inferiority in nearly every other category. Vålerenga had dominated the ball with 68 percent possession and created five big chances to Aalesund's two, but a combination of poor finishing and some sharp goalkeeping — Aalesund's keeper made five saves to Vålerenga's two — kept the visitors at bay. Then, three triple substitutions changed the game entirely: Vålerenga clawed back through Petter Strand, M. Grundetjern's second of the match on 70 minutes, and finally Carl Lange's 85th-minute leveller to send the away end into delirium. The draw leaves Aalesund frustrated having been so close to a statement win, while Vålerenga will take enormous confidence from an inexplicable comeback that their statistical dominance arguably deserved.
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