August 19, 2009: Round 20 of the Vodafone Division:

HB Tórshavn – EB/Streymur 0-1 (0-0)
0-1 Owngoal

HB suffered their first defeat at home this season after a stoppage time goal from EB/Streymur. But as Víkingur lost and NSÍ Runavík drew, HB stay 10 points clear at the top of the table. Last year’s champions EB/Streymur are still in 5th place but only 3 points from the runners up spot and with a game in hand.

The blustery conditions had some influence on the play, but not too much, though. The tempo was generally high, but few clear-cut chances were created at either side of the field.

The first real chance of the match went to EB/Streymur after 22 minutes when Bárður Olsen’s free kick from midfield was knocked into HB’s penalty area where Sorin Anghel took the ball down, turned and fired the ball a metre over the goal.

At the other and HB failed to create clear cut chances and the absence of striker Andrew av Fløtum, who was suspended, had its toll on HB’s attack.

EB/Streymur had the upper hand in the first 25 minutes of the second half and Hans Pauli Samuelsen was in a good position to shoot when he got a square pass on the edge of the penalty area, but he blasted the ball well over the crossbar.

EB/Streymur had a couple of other attempts that could have paid off, but they were squandered.

Eventually HB got into their stride and in the last 10-15 minutes of the game they pressed on to get the winning goal.

Milan Kuljic had the best effort when he let fly from the edge of the penalty area, but René Tórgarð, who is back in the EB/Streymur goal after a long injury period, magnificently tipped the ball over the crossbar with an outstanding save.

A couple of crosses caused some nervous situations in front of EB/Streymur’s goal, but in the end the ball was cleared to safety.

A bad EB/Streymur pass up field then could have cost dearly for EB/Streymur as it was intercepted by Fróði Benjaminsen who made a surging run towards EB/Streymur’s penalty area, but the defence managed to disturb Benjaminsen enough so that his shot didn’t become fatal.

But as the clock had elapsed 90 minutes, EB/Streymur countered and played the ball up field to Brian Olsen on the left who then broke into the penalty area and scored with the help of a deflection off a HB-leg which deceived Marcin David in the HB-goal.

But strangely enough, HB actually edged closer to the title as none of their nearest rivals managed to win.

KÍ Klaksvík - Víkingur 2-0 (1-0)
1-0 Hjalgrím Elttør
2-0 Hjalgrím Elttør

KÍ are still breating after a 2-0 win over Víkingur, who prior to today’s match was in second place in the table.

20 minutes through the match Todi Jónsson’s through-ball set up Hjalgrím Elttør to give KÍ the lead and early in the second half Elttør was at it again with his second goal of the match to secure KÍ 3 points that could easily mean the difference between relegation and staying up.

KÍ have provided the top teams like HB and NSÍ stiff opposition in the past matches, and as they today beat Víkingur, they look to be in a much better shape than B36 Tórshavn who have only earned 1 point in their last 5 matches.

On Sunday KÍ visit B36 Tórshavn!

07 Vestur - NSÍ Runavík 2-2 (0-2)
0-1 Óli Hansen (pen)
0-2 Christian Høgni Jacobsen
1-2 Tór-Ingar Akselsen
2-2 Jóan Petur á Stongum

NSÍ were on winning course at half time with goals from Óli Hansen and Christian Høgni Jacobsen, but 07 Vestur fought back well in the second half to salvage a point with goals from Jens Erik Rasmussen and Jóan Petur á Stongum.

3 points for NSÍ would have taken them 2 points clear of víkingur in 3rd place whom they are now equal on points with. The sole point is not of much use for 07 Vestur who are still 6 points from safety, but a win would have taken them to within 4 points of B36. But the problem for 07 Vestur is that if they catch B36, they will still also have to overtake KÍ, and that is maybe a tougher task, even though B36 is in front of KÍ at the moment. But that could very much change already on Sunday.

ÍF Fuglafjørður - B36 Tórshavn 1-1 (1-1)
0-1 Magnus Olsen
1-1 Andy Olsen

B36 took the lead in the first half with a goal from Magnus Olsen, but Andy Olsen equalized before the break.

But as KÍ Klaksvík are moving upwards in the table, 1 point doesn’t do B36 much of good, and as things have looked over that last weeks, B36 look more likely to be relegated than KÍ. But B36 have the chance to set the record straight when they take on KÍ on Sunday.

B68 Toftir - AB Argir 0-0

Strong wind made it very difficult to play football in Toftir today and neither team managed to break the deadlock. This was AB’s 8th clean sheet of the season; the same number as EB/Streymur.