May 09 & 10, 2009: Round 06 of the Vodafone Division:

May 09:

NSÍ Runavík - Víkingur 1-2 (1-0)
1-0 Karoly Potemkin
1-1 Finnur Justinussen
1-2 Martin Olsen

NSÍ dominated the first half and took the lead with 5 minutes remaining when Karoly Potemkin after a fine NSÍ-move was played clear to score his 8th goal of the season. NSÍ had other chances but they were wasted.

The second half was more even as Víkingur improved and around the hour-mark Víkingur’s pressure paid dividend when Finnur Justinussen levelled the score after NSÍ hadn’t properly cleared from the corner.

And in stoppage time, Víkingur snatched victory when 19-year-old Martin Olsen, who had come on midway through the second half, scored with a fine shot. Martin Olsen is younger brother of Faroese international Súni Olsen.

NSÍ will rue their missed chances in the first half as they could have made the points safe. – Although Potemkin is on top of the top scorer list, he’s still missing too many chances.

May 10:

HB Tórshavn – AB Argir 4-0 (1-0)
1-0 Rasmus Nolsøe
2-0 Páll Mohr Joensen
3-0 Fróði Benjaminsen
4-0 Bjarni Jørgensen

Technically it was a local derby, but as AB are only playing their second season in the top division, there aren’t any traditions attached to this match which was also mirrored by the relatively small and very quiet crowd.

AB had come to Gundadalur stadium to first and foremost defend the one point they started with, but that game-plan was smashed to pieces after 5 minutes when Rasmus Nolsøe put HB in front with a direct free kick from just outside the corner of the penalty area on the right hand side.

Shortly after, Fróði Benjaminsen went close with a shot from outside, but AB goalkeeper Heðin Stenberg fisted the ball over the bar.

AB didn´t have much to offer and their only effort on goal came after about 20 minutes when Nikolai L. Eriksen got a shot in, but Símun Rógvi Hansen in the HB goal saved it comfortably.

HB were in full control for the rest of the half, but without creating too many chances. In one of the best moves Rógvi Poulsen on the left got to the byline and made a good flat cross in front of goal to Milan Kuljic, but the chance was squandered.

Near the end of the half, Rasmus Nolsøe was just a centimetre from doubling HB’s score, but his free kick from 27 metres bounced off the left post (maybe the goalkeeper got a slight touch).

In the second half it looked just like a question of time until HB would score again. That happened after a quarter of an hour. A free kick was knocked into AB’s penalty area where Fróði Benjaminsen’s effort was initially blocked by the goalkeeper, but Páll Mohr Joensen fired the rebound into the back of the net.

AB looked like a dejected team after this and allowed HB to come to easy chances. Six minutes later Fróði Benjaminsen finally got on the score sheet with an easy header when he was left unmarked in front of goal.

HB made it 4-0 with 5 minutes remaining with a spectacular volley straight into the top right corner from Bjarni Jørgensen after a corner.

HB had sitters to make it both 5-0 and 6-0, but they were all missed. HB goalkeeper Símin Rógvi Hansen never had to make a save in the second half.

Again, HB’s goals came from set pieces. – A good weapon to have, but HB can’t just rely on set pieces for the rest of the season, because at some stage they’re going to run out of luck with those goals.

But obviously HB have done something right as they are on top of the table. Part of the story is also that HB have only played one match away from home.

B68 Toftir – KÍ Klaksvík 2-0 (1-0)
1-0 Ahmed Keita
2-0 Niklas Joensen

KÍ had little to offer and as the first half was drawing to a close, B68 finally made one of their chances count when an individual effort from youngster Jóan Símun Edmundsson set up the Senegalese Keita to head B68 on winning course.

After an hour B68 went further ahead with a header from Niklas Joensen in connection with a free kick.

The same Niklas Joesen was sent off late in the game.

With today’s loss, KÍ are 5 or 6 points from safety, depending on goal difference, and their situation is looking really grim.

Next Sunday KÍ play a massive game at home against second from bottom 07 Vestur. If KÍ lose again, they will find it extremely difficult to get above the relegation line again as their next 3 matches are against EB/Streymur (H), HB Tórshavn (a) and NSÍ Runavík (H).

EB/Streymur – B36 Tórshavn 0-0

After a very dull first half, the tempo was upped just a little bit in the second half which produced more chances, but still neither team managed to break the deadlock.

Last season’s top scorer Arnbjørn Hansen has still not reached full fitness after injuries and spent the first half on EB/Streymur’s bench. In the dying moments EB/Streymur’s captain Egil á Bø was sent off for a second bookable offense.

This was the first scoreless match of the season. In average 3,17 goals have been scored pr. match this season so far and that is very similar to the years from 2005 – 2007 where the average was very consistent around 3,2 compared to only 2,7 last season.

07 Vestur – ÍF Fuglafjørður 1-1 (0-0)
1-0 Hendrik Rubeksen
1-1 Nenad Saric

After a goalless first half, 07 Vestur took the lead early in the second half when Jens Erik Rasmussen set up Hendrik Rubeksen, but ÍF were level again shortly after with a goal from Serbian player Nenad Saric.

This match produced two red cards. First one for ÍF’s Hungarian Balazs Sinko and later for 07 Vestur’s Jóan Petur á Stongum.

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On Wednesday 15 May the first leg of the Cup semifinals will be played between AB Argir vs. EB/Streymur and ÍF Fuglafjørður vs. Víkingur. The second leg is played 28 May.