FK Bodø/Glimt vs Molde FK - Eliteserien Week 12 (2023)

Bodø, July 2nd.

In a sunny afternoon in Northern Norway, FK Bodø/Glimt received Molde FK for the 12th round of the Eliteserien. A duel between the strongest teams of the last 4 years (2 titles of Eliteserien each), FK Bodø current leader against the previous champion Molde FK.

Bodø/Glimt arrived at this game following the first defeat for the championship (on the 11th round) and a difficult win in the NM Cup.

Molde, trying to recover from a bad start of season, won the previous 2 games.

Tactically, Kjetil Knudsen, the manager of Bodø (yellow) displayed the team in a 1-4-3-3 formation, as usual, to support its attacking playstyle and cover the whole pitch, changing shape for a 1-4-5-1 when defending and to a 1-2-3-5 (closer to a 1-2-3-3-2) while attacking.

Erling Moe, by other hand, displayed Molde’s (blue and white) team in a 1-3-5-2 formation, to overcrowd the midfield, making it difficult for the opposition to contruct game through the middle. The team shape would unfold to a 1-5-3-2 while defending and to a 1-3-3-4 while attacking with controled possession.

The match started with both teams evenly matched. Bodø having the ball more time, playing around and through and Molde trying to capitalise their speed with quick attacks and counters.

The first play of danger belonged to the champions of last season although, in the 15th minute, the game changed. The goalkeeper Kalstrom cut a dangerous play with his arm outside the area, receiving the red card and leaving the blues in numerical inferiority. E.Moe took out Kitolano to put Petersen in the goal. Tactically the team changed the formation to a 1-5-3-1 with very compact lines, more suitable for defending deep and to minimise the spaces.

Bodø/Glimt started attacking more, building pressure and mounting siege on the last third, searching to put the ball on Moumbagna (their target man) or in players coming into the space inside the area. The away team started defending deeper and launching long balls to the forward.

However, against the tide of the game, in a recovered possession on the 24th minute, Molde made the most out of the space on their right wing and Ola Brynhildsen finished well Eriksen’s low cross.

The home team pushed even harder but 11 minutes after the 1st goal, a relief from the defence into midfield where Brynhildsen was faster than Bodø’s defenders and scored the second goal to the away team.

The 0-2 was the result at half time, rewarding the efectiveness of the blue and white team.

The second half started without changes and was dominated from begining to end by the home team.

Bodø/Glimt was more dominant, beting heavily on crosses to the area (31 completed of 64), started producing more occasions of goal but the inaccuracy and the opposition’s goalkeeper Petersen denied the goal. To avoid being caught by surprise they commited several fouls to stop counters and quick attacks from the away team.

On other side, Molde was resignated to defence as their only forward was always alone, without stamina thus an easy prey to the home team’s defence.

On the 66th minute Bjortuft, who came from the bench a minute earlier, crossed to the second post to find Moumbagna without marking, who scored with a header. 1-2 with almost half an hour to play.

The time passed and Bodø’s side, unable to reach the draw, starting to lose coolness. In the 82nd minute, Berg reflected the emotional status of home team.

Finally, in the 3rd minute of the extra time, the equaliser for the home team came by Saltnes after a Elabdellaoui’s header that hit the cross bar.

The match finished 2-2, Bodø/Glimt should be disappointed at themselves. They dominated the game but failed to score more despite having numerous opportunities, reflected on getting 5,4 xG (expected goals). The leader of the classification lost 5 points in the last 2 games and stays 6 points ahead of Tromsø (1 game less).

Molde ended up getting a very good result. They managed to resist to the attacking avalanche and secured a point.

Players in Focus

Ola Brynhildsen - Clinical, needed 2 shots to make what the opposition team did in 30

Oliver Petersen - With 8 saves, 6 in the second half, was the big responsible for maintaining Molde’s side in the game by delaying Bodø’s goals