TYING TREND CONTINUES WITH ROA    18th April 2009

Translation: Per Kristiansen

Team Strommen continued their tying start to the season with a 1 - 1 tie with Røa on Thursday evening. In the second of three matches in the first week of Topserrien competition, Strommen was disappointed not to take the win.

Most people in the Topserrien League are bigger than Diana Matheson, but in this match she dominated play. In the brand new yellow and black uniform, the Canadian moved about the pitch like a wasp, causing problems for Roa wherever she went.

In the first few minutes, she set Lene Storløkken free for a shot with a deft pass, but the attempt was weak. When Matheson had a chance herself, she made no mistake, and put Team Strommen into a 1-0 lead. She explained that "I had a great through pass from Rhian, and their defense was sleeping, so it was an easy goal for me."

The goal was probably against the run of play in the first half, when Roa dominated. They controlled most of the possession. However, the second half was a different matter.

Team Strommen began to take over the match and it looked likely that they would walk away with the win and the three points. Unfortunately, Nasra Abdullah tackled Roa's Lene Mykjåland inside the penalty area and from the ensuing penalty, Siri Nordby scored without giving goalkeeper Ingrid Bruserud any chance. Matheson commented that "it was extremely irritating that we gave away the penalty. I feel the team this year is an even better one than last year, and we could have had this win."

There were other chances to put the match away. Una Nwajei had a shot on goal that beat Røa's goalie, but a Roa defender managed a last gasp clearance from the goal line.

 After the match, Team Strommen captain Lene Storløkken commented that she was " most disappointed not to have won. We lost the ball a couple of times in midfield, and we should have been more aggressive behind their defensive line."

Team Strommen coach Coach Janne Jansson agreed with her captain. However, she saw today's performance as much better than the opening game of the season. "Getting a point away at Røa is work well done, even if we missed a great chance of taking all three.

With two games played, Team Strommen has two points for two ties and lies   th in the table. The chance for their first victory of the season will come this Sunday when Team Strommen welcomes Klepp  to LSK-hallen stadium.