Kolstad confronted robust opposition from Elverum within the first handball play-offs, however led your complete recreation en path to a 30-28 victory at Trondheim Spektrum.
The champion’s place will probably be determined within the play-off last, which will probably be determined in one of the best of three video games. Kolstad grabbed the CL ticket after the primary recreation.
Magnus Abelvik Rød (8 objectives) and goalkeeper Torbjørn Bergerud (14 saves) set the tone for Wednesday’s recreation.
Rød introduced that he’s not scheduled for the Olympics after breaking his foot in the course of the EC in January. The supervisor of the nationwide group Jonas Wille sat within the stands and watched the Reds do the harm. He scored in his first eight video games to complete the sport.
– I used to be very low mentally in January and I have not performed a lot just lately, however at this time was good. I began my recreation effectively. It’s good to carry an essential recreation, stated Rød on TV 2.
– It’s arduous to cease. A world-class participant, Bergerud stated of his teammates.
– We bought objectives forward of us, however then we invited Elverum into the sport. It wasn’t one of the best 2nd half I’ve had, however I made an essential save on the finish, Bergerud stated of his private effort.
A great begin
The chosen Christian Berges bought off to a nasty begin and threatened to knock Elverum off the sphere. Rød scored the go-ahead purpose after 36 seconds, and the guests mustn’t have been concerned. After six minutes and some seconds, Elverum took a 7-1 lead over Kolstad.
Børge Lund put that phrase to good use, as Elverum fought to get again into the sport. Veteran Morten Nergaard began a cultured save from Torbjørn Bergerud’s opener, and Elverum scored seven of the sport’s subsequent 9 objectives.
1 / 4 of an hour later it was 9-7. After that Kolstad participant Vetle Eck Aga was despatched off for tripping Tobias Grøndahl. At the identical time, Endre Langaas scored the eighth purpose for Elverum, however the group failed to make use of the remaining time to equalize.
The argument
Kolstad regained a two-goal lead, and it was 13-11 between the groups. Controversy then arose when the guests’ Antonio Serradilla was despatched off for elevating his hand at an opponent.
The dismissal itself was not unsure, however simply earlier than Sander Sagosen bought away with the identical factor on the different finish of the sphere, Grøndahl enthusiastically pointed it out to the referee. With two Elverum gamers despatched off, Kolstad made it 14-11, and earlier than the guests have been full it was 15-11.
Sigvaldi Gudjonsson made it 17-13 within the final second of the half, simply after Bergerud saved Peter Lukacz’s shot.
Amazingly
– The starting was not adequate, nevertheless it had a superb center half. We notice that it has been some time since we final performed, however now we have to attempt to construct on what we do effectively, stated Børge Lund on TV 2 in the course of the break.
Elverum did as he requested and made positive the sport was stay the entire time. The group was behind by two objectives a number of instances within the second half, one behind at 27-26 28-27 and 29-28 within the last minutes. With objectives from Sagosen and Simen Lyse, in addition to objectives from Bergerud, Kolstad continued to steer and will resolve Saturday’s last.
Then the return match will probably be performed in Elverum, and a doable third and last match will probably be performed on Wednesday 29 May in Trondheim.
Kick-off at Trondheim Spektrum was additionally delayed by 5 minutes after a hearth alarm went off in the course of the warm-up. At the tip of the primary half, the sport needed to be stopped for some time whereas a member of the stadium was repaired.
(© NTB)