Eliteserien 2024 : Matchday 3 – The Østfold derby
The week 3 of Eliteserien finished yesterday (April 16) and the two derbies were the most interesting matches to watch. The Østfold derby between Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg, and the “Best I Vest” derby (best in the west) between Viking and Brann. It has been 12 seasons of Eliteserien since the first last Østfold derby happened. Here`s a short review:
Fredrikstad FK – Sarpsborg 08
Fredrikstad FK and Sarpsborg 08 hadn’t met in the Norwegian top tier since 2011. The rivalry between the two cities (Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg) exists since 1567 and, naturally, it extends to football. Fredrikstad FK received Sarpsborg 08 on Saturday with a full stadium. Tactically there weren’t big surprises as the home side displayed the team in its usual 1-3-5-2 formation, playing the ball around with short passing and looking for the control of the ball possession. The visitors used their regular 1-4-2-3-1 formation with a cautious mentality, using long and through passes to make the most of the opposition’s mistakes.
Sarpsborg started better. Their strategy to look for early crosses (7/11 total crosses) to the back of the third opposition’s defender were fruitful and at 5’ they scored through Berget’s header (1-0). Until the end of the first half, Fredrikstad dominated but was unable to pass the opposition’s defence. Sarpsborg defended deep, with compact and organised lines, not giving much space for the opposition to create danger, despite some proneness to errors in the back.
The second half started as the first ended – with the home team searching for the equaliser. They managed to quickly do that. At 50’ a cross from the left to Traore who brilliantly assisted Kvile in the middle for the 1-1.
The match became more open and balanced with both teams creating opportunities. With both teams looking to score, Sarpsborg started opening spaces in the back which allowed Fredrikstad to successfully make combinations in the wings. In the 74th minute Sarpsborg put themselves in the lead. Stefan Johansen took a corner on the left of the attack and Uchenna, without marking on the centre, scored with a header (1-2).
The home team made some changes and started playing in a 1-4-3-3 formation. They started to be more dangerous in the front and finally scored at 92’, after a play of persistence finished by Henrik Johansen (2-2).
It was an emotional derby, where some aggressiveness was noticeable. Fredrikstad lacked experience to be more effective. Sarpsborg still hasn’t recovered for the exit of the main attacking players in the Winter. Both teams showed to lack concentration when defending and thus need to improve this aspect.
Although none of the individual performances excelled, Henrik Johansen changed Fredrikstad’s game. Subbed in late in the match (minute 80), he had time to score the equaliser, to make 2 key passes and to create 2 big chances.
