– Can play up to 40 – VG

Odd was naturally excited to raise the old lady after the 6-1 loss to Bodø / Glimt a week ago, and they did.

Espen Ruud celebrated his 300th match with Odd assisting at 1-0 and scoring 2-0 himself.

The veteran has eight goal points (four goals and four assists) in his last nine games.

– It’s fun at 36 to be a part of this, says Ruud to VG.

– Espen is unique. He can play up to 40, coach Jan Frode Nornes tells VG.

– Espen maintains such a high level that it would have taken him to the national team. He maintains the same high standard as them, says Elbasan Rashani.

Birk Risa, Ruud’s back partner, was moved after the game. He lost his grandfather this week.

– It was a tough few days, so it was an important match to win, especially for me this meant something extra. We honor him in a good way today, I want to thank the whole team for that, says Risa to VG.

Stabæk’s only consolation at half-time was that it was 1-0 for Odd. The goal came when Markus Kaasa played Espen Ruud on the edge. Back’s post went over Mushaga Bakenga, but Elbasan Rashani was behind him and he threw the ball into goal.

– It is well deserved that we lead. Today we are positive and we use the ball well, Rashani (27) told Dplay during the break.

Rashani is open to the fact that he is waiting for what offers will come in and has not signed a new contract with the Ski Club.

Odd had 73 percent ball possession in the first half, and Stabæk didn’t create a single scoring opportunity.

– We make it too easy for him, said Yaw Amankwah, who came back early in central defense in Stabæk.

– We must not give away unnecessary counterattacks, Jan Frode Nornes said during the break.

Janne Jönsson decided to replace Erik Botheim already during the break.

– We have been too slow on the legs and too slow on the mind, the Swede told Dplay before the second half.

Stabæk was much better in the second half, but created very little. And when Elbasan Rashani served Ruud, the 36-year-old served from Andreas Hanche-Olsen and turned the ball into Stabæk’s goal to 2-0.

Odd posed with the same starting lineup for the eighth time in a row, and this team now has as many points as Molde in the table. This was Odd’s sixth straight win at home.

Stabæk, on the other hand, fell back into old sins after a victory over Haugesund last time.

– We lost to a better team. We did a weak first half, but quite well in the second half. It could have been a bit tricky if Mats (Solheim) had scored on his chance, Janne Jönsson tells VG.

P.S! You can watch all the Elite Series matches on Dplay (editorial collaboration).

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