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RHIAN'S SOCCER JOURNALS:
LOSING NEVER GETS ANY EASIER: NORWAY CUP FINAL 8 Nov 2009
Losing never gets any easier … even after two previous losses in the Norway Cup Final. Last year, in 2008, I took some consolation in the fact that Røa was the better team, and they deserved to win. This year I can’t say the same. We started the game off a little nervously, but even then though, we had some great chances. Slowly, as the match developed, we slowly took total control.
There were some great chances on our part, and none was bigger than the one I had somewhere around the 12th minute. Una, whom I think had a great game, made a strong run down the left of the field. She powered by her defender and put in a perfect cross pass, getting it in behind the goalie. I was running hard to the back post. My defender got a slight touch on the ball, but even with that, I cannot understand how I didn’t manage to finish such a golden opportunity.
We at Team Strommen, had some well-executed little plays and I thought we were strong in every aspect of our game, from defense to forward. In particular I thought Una up front, and Lene, Mari, and D in the midfield played outstanding games. I thought everyone had a good game, but these four players really shone and let us play so well throughout. D won player of the game and she thoroughly deserved the award. She was everywhere.
Røa’s goal came against run of the play right before half time. It was a really good goal, but it was also one of those cases where the forward threw the ball towards net and caught a lucky break. She hit the past and in it went to the top corner. The goal came totally against the run of play, and I think we were all a little shell-shocked to find ourselves a goal down at the half when we had played so well and had been the better team.
We came out really well in the second and started off right where we had left off. We dominated. We created some good chances, and admittedly conceded them a few, but nothing seemed to go our way. Lene made a great run down the middle, and brilliantly allowed me to slide in behind the defense. I made good contact on the ball and really thought the shot was going in. It was heartbreaking to see it go just over the top left corner.
The whole of the second half was a good one for us: Good in that we played well. We had some decent chances, but nothing bounced our way. Roa had a few dangerous forays into our half, but our goalie and defense were strong.
At the final whistle we were all totally disconsolate and shocked. We knew that in last year's finals we had lost to a better tram, but in this match, we were the better team. We did everything we could have done to win, other than scoring, and unfortunately that is what wins games.
The banquet afterwards was as hard as ever I remember it. Just once it would be good to attend as a winner. Having to sit across the room from the ladies that had just won, especially when their coach was wearing an obnoxious gold jacket, was not an enjoyable experience. Later though we headed back to Lillestrøm and had a little party with our friends, family and local supporters. They did a great job. However, the night was a long one and I was more than pleased to finally fall into bed. It was not a very long sleep though, as D and I had to be at the airport for 9:00 am. We were flying out to meet up with our National Team squad in training in Florida.
I would like to send out a huge thank you to my teammates, the Team Strommen Club and; the Team Strømmen supporters. Even though the year did not end the way we would have liked it, 2009 was still a good season and I had a great time along the way.
A TEAM STROMMEN RETROSPECTIVE FOR 2009 Mari Knudsen
We always set ourselves a number of goals before the season starts. Two of our goals in 2009 were to take a medal in the Toppserien league, and reach the Norway Cup final, and then win it. A third was to progress from the group stage in the European Champions League.
When we now look back on the season, we can say that we did not reach all of these goals. We finished fourth in the Toppserien; we were beaten in the European Champions League two minutes into overtime; and then we lost the Norway Cup final despite leading 6-3 in chances. When you look at events this way, it is hard to conclude that this was not meant to be our year. In football, it's rare you can blame losses on bad luck: Usually either lack of skill or incompetence is involved.
However, we lost our entire back line, and our goalkeeper, and those who had to move into these positions made a tremendous effort. In this light our fourth place finish in the Toppserien was not so bad. Nor was being in the European Champions League. Just to play was an honour, and after our overtime loss, we have a taste for more.
In the Norway Cup Final, not many believed that we would be able to compete with Roa. They were certainly the favorites going in. We gave Roa a great battle for the Cup. We were the better team on the field. So, a season which could be viewed negatively, will instead give us a good launching platform for the 2010 season. We can hardly wait.
Statistics
We received 36 points in the Toppserien and ended in 4th place We won 11 of 22 matches ( 50% ) Of these, 6 were at home & 5 away. We drew 3
of 22 matches (14%) We scored
27 goals at home and 21 on the road.
Top goal scorers:
Una
Nwajei: 13 goals
RhianWilkinsonSoccer.com is the Official Website of Rhian Wilkinson.
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