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Eirik Schulze’s 1-1 draw against Brann could be worth the gold for the start in the battle for relegation in the Eliteserien. Southerners face agonizing weeks.
Wednesday’s draw means Start remains in the qualifying spot in the Elite Series in soccer. Mjøndalen in the place behind can also pass to the Kristiansand club with a big win against Rosenborg on Thursday.
At the moment, there are three points between the teams.
The relegation drama will be decided in the final round of the series two days before Christmas Eve. Next, Start will face Vålerenga on the road, while Mjøndalen has a home game against tabletop jumbo Aalesund.
So it’s guaranteed that there will be more drama in the style of what took place in Kristiansand on Wednesday. A late penalty shoot-out and lost chances were some of the ingredients.
Exit – Brann 1-1 (0-0)
600 spectators.
Goals: 0-1 Petter Strand (60), 1-1 Eirik Schulze (69).
Judge: Ola Hobber Nilsen, Nordstrand.
Yellow card: Eman Markovic, Erlend Segberg, Start (NTB)
Bonanza of opportunity
The last match on Wednesday was goalless at half-time, but the half-time result gave a bad picture of the events of the first 45 minutes. There were many occasions and the home team created most of them.
Eirik Schulze and Eman Markovic had good chances, and Christian Bolaños could also send Start to the lead. At the opposite end of the field, former starting player Mathias Rasmussen put home team goalkeeper Jonas Deumeland to the test with a couple of good shots, but to no avail.
Initially in the second half, he continued in the same direction. After just a quarter of an hour of play, Markovic again had the opportunity to send Start to the lead, but in the first half he was too weak.
Schulze again
Then came the score that put new grays on everyone’s head at starting camp. Petter Strand had the opportunity for a free kick from a good position, and Brann’s profile responded by swinging the ball beautifully off the crossbar behind goalkeeper Deumeland.
Then it seemed dark for the home team, but Eirik Schulze came to the rescue 21 minutes before full time. The 27-year-old was icy cold as he put the ball into the near corner after a good game.
Elite Series 2020
| Bodø / Glimt | 29 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 100 | – | 32 | 78 |
| Mold | 27 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 67 | – | 32 | 56 |
| Valerenga | 28 | 14 | 9 | 5 | Four. Five | – | 31 | 51 |
| Kristiansund | 28 | 12 | eleven | 5 | 54 | – | 40 | 47 |
| Rosenborg | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 46 | – | 3. 4 | Four. Five |
| Viking | 28 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 52 | – | 47 | 43 |
| Odd | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 48 | – | 41 | 42 |
| Haugesund | 29 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 36 | – | fifty | 36 |
| Stabæk | 28 | 8 | eleven | 9 | 35 | – | 43 | 35 |
| Fire | 29 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 38 | – | 48 | 33 |
| Sandefjord | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 30 | – | 42 | 33 |
| Sarpsborg | 29 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 33 | – | 38 | 32 |
| Electricity goods | 28 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 38 | – | 52 | 28 |
| Start | 29 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 33 | – | 52 | 27 |
| Mjøndalen | 28 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 2. 3 | – | 44 | 24 |
| Aalesund | 29 | 2 | 5 | 22 | 30 | – | 82 | eleven |
The goal was Schulze’s ninth in the series this season.
He saved an important point for a starting team that was fortunate enough not to lose in the final minutes. Brann was later punished as a result of Erlend Segberg using illegal means in a duel with Vegard Forren.
However, from the penalty spot, Daouda Bamba sent the ball high.
