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BEKKESTUA (VG) (Stabæk – Haugesund 2–1) It took a bit of eternity before Stabæk won again in the Eliteserien. Substitute Darren Maatsen (29) arranged a win with a wonderful hit to the crossbar. But it was unclear if he would play at all.
Stabæk coach Jan Jönsson was very happy with the first win in 55 days. And he admits to VG that he had to bet with Darren Maatsen.
– It was uncertain with Darren. Couldn’t put it too soon. You have the first 25 minutes, says Jönsson.
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The match with the past in three Dutch clubs in the Honor Division has been injured (thigh stretch) since June. He has hardly trained with the team. But he obviously has a talent for scoring. His first in the Elite Series was a stroke of luck.
– It has been a test of patience to be completely injury free. And it has been difficult for me. But scoring means a lot, says Maatsen, who is only under contract for the rest of the season.
We have to go back to July 19, the last time the Bærum team won the field. That’s when they beat the points-poor Aalesund (superbly last in the table) 3-1 at Color Line Stadium. Jan Jönsson’s men did not go seven games without winning.
– It is important to get paid. But we have not been so concerned about that statistic there. We have been good in several games where we haven’t scored three points, including the last one against Rosenborg (2-2), says Jönsson.
The full pot against Haugesund was welcome. But it could have quickly ended in losses. The guests had the upper hand in the match. They produced enough opportunities to tip the game to 1-1. But then the tall Dutch striker came in. After seven minutes on the field, he scored the winning goal.
– It was important to us and important to Darren, said Jönsson, who compared the shooting technique to that of Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Stabæk put pressure on Haugesund’s guests from the kick-off. But they failed to produce scoring chances. Not until they took the lead after 12 minutes. Mats Solheim finished off after a corner. FKH goalkeeper Helge Sandvik saved early, but in the chaos that followed inside the penalty area, Andreas Hanche-Olsen was the last to touch the ball.
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But Hanche-Olsen himself was millimeters from the tie six minutes later. In the wrong way, that is. Not feeling depressed, he strode hard toward his own goal. Marcus Sandberg reacted quickly and was knocked into a corner.
However, the Stabæk goalkeeper was unable to help after 33 minutes. Once again, Captain Hanche-Olsen was in “scoring form”. A hard post from Mikkel Desler that left his own goal at 1-1.
– I thank Darren, of course. But I can take my share of the credit for “two goals,” Andreas Hanche-Olsen tells VG, and he laughs.
He claims it was his first own goal in just over 120 games in the Elite Series.
– It was clumsy of me, says Hanche-Olsen.
P.S! Haugesund profile Christian Grindheim (37) believes that FKH was underpaid in a game where they had the upper hand. He tells VG that he is 90 percent certain that he will retire after the season to work at the club’s academy.
JOY: Andreas Hanche-Olsen has fixed it 1-0 for Stabæk, and his teammates run to celebrate with him. Photo: Berit Roald
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The elite series
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- Europa League qualifier
- Descent rating
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