INTILITY ARENA (Dagsavisen): He provided the assist for the last goal of the year from the Vålerenga men’s side, he was everywhere on the field before he suddenly lay down, felt great pain before he had to be helped off the field by three men.
– Was there a new serious knee injury?
– No, but my first reaction was that the Achilles tendon had ruptured. Then I got worried. There was no tackling, no impact. But when I got it examined in the dressing room, I was relieved, he says.
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Start saved the place
The rest of the team was also relieved, even though the last home game of the year only ended in a division of points and 1–1 against Start. That result led to Start saving the place. Fidel Ambina scored VIF’s goal right after the break.
– I saw him coming from behind and had an opening in the field, says Bjørdal.
Vålerenga had moved up a long time ago, but it was only on Saturday evening that they got the visible evidence of it. Something as rare as a trophy for winning the 2024 OBOS league.
– It’s the first trophy I’ve won as an adult player, so I get to take it with me, says Bjørdal.
But as a player in children’s football, he has a few trophies under his belt.
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Lightning can follow
Vålerenga moves up together with Bryne, so the autumn will show whether there will be two or three Oslo teams in the Eliteserien next year. Lyn has played for qualification.
– We are looking forward to next year, but want to end the season properly. It’s always fun to win football matches. Here we don’t get enough speed in the game to create enough chances even though we have a lot of ball possession, says Henrik Bjørdal.
Coach Geir Bakke visited the same place.
– We have to go up a level for next year, but we have already started that job, says Bakke to Dagsavisen.
Vålerenga finishes away against a Sogndal team, who, with their victory over Kongsvinger on Saturday, saved their place in next year’s OBOS league.
Read also: Bryne moved up together with VIF
Read also: Lightning to qualification despite loss
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THE FACTS
The penultimate series round in the OBOS league ended like this:
Bryne – Egersund 2-1, Kongsvinger – Sogndal 0-1, Mjøndalen – Stabæk 3-0, Moss – Raufoss 3-2, Sandnes Ulf – Ranheim 2-6, Vålerenga – Start 1-1, Aalesund – Levanger 4-3, Åsane – Lightning 3–2.
Vålerenga and Bryne move up to the Eliteserien.
Moss and Lyn are guaranteed qualification for promotion, the last two teams will be ready after the last round next Saturday. Five teams are fighting for those places.
Sandnes Ulf moves down. The last round will decide whether Mjøndalen or Levanger follow.
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