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FFK's home game against last year's champions Valerenga
finally brought joy to the FFK fans. FFK apparently
wanted to use this delightful spring evening to show
that the team are indeed able to play wonderful football.
Rami once again looked confident on what little the
FFK defence let through this time.
Read more on: Rami's
Page
The Swedish national team coach was present
at the game to look at Rami, but FFK dominated the game
to such an extent that it's hard to say if he really
learnt anything.
Sweden are expected to announce their squad for the
World Cup finals on Tuesday, and Rami is in the running
for a backup goalkeeper role.
The FFK fans has been a grumpy bunch the last couple
of weeks, as the team showed little to support their
own ambitions on ending in the top half of Tippeligaen
this season. But after 90 minutes of humiliating last
year's league champions Valerenga, the fans were boiling
over with joy.
And according to all of the media, they really had reason
to celebrate, as the football shown on Fredrikstad Stadium
was brilliant.
There really was no doubt who was the better team this
evening, but FFK kept their fans on the edge of their
seats by waiting until only 12 minutes remained, to
score the winner. Both Toth and the youngster Elyounoussi
had several very good opportunities which they missed
throughout the game.
The first half saw an aggressive FFK team putting pressure
on Valerenga at every opportunity. And it paid off,
as FFK noted three big chances in the first ten minutes.
And on the third, Mihaly Toth battled his way through
the Valerenga defence before hammering the ball past
Valerenga's brilliant Icelandic goalkeeper Arni Gautur
Arason.
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But FFK didn't let go after this early lead. Continued high
pressure and fast play made sure Valerenga didn't get into
the game until the 31st minute. Then, totally against the
run of play, Valerenga scored the equaliser when Freddy Dos
Santos put a precise finish on a Storbaek cross unchallenged
from the otherwise well organised FFK defence, leaving Rami
with no chance to stop it.
At half time, the FFK coach was not happy with his team only
holding a draw at that stage. He demanded that the team continue
the high pressure in the second half to ensure all three points
would remain in Fredrikstad.
And the team followed their coach, and continued to roll over
Valerenga. FFK produced several great chances, but they were
not able to make it count until 12 minutes from the end. First
Valerenga captain Kjetil Waehler got his second booking of
the game, and hence a red card. From the resulting free-kick,
Simen Brenne was able to put the ball in the net after a series
of challenges were won by FFK players in the penalty area.
Even after this, Valerenga were not able to pull themselves
together, and FFK dominated the last twelve minutes of the
game too, producing - and wasting - several more chances.
Match Details:
Fredrikstad - Valerenga 2-1 (1-1)
Attendance: 9,824
1-0 Mihaly Toth (10')
1-1 Freddy Dos Santos (31')
2-1 Simen Brenne (78')
Yellow cards: Valerenga: Ardian Gashi, Jarl Andre Storbaek,
Christian
Grindheim, Kjetil Waehler
Red card: Valerenga: Kjetil Waehler
EP ratings (average from VG and Dagbladet):
FFK: Rami Shaaban 5.5, Pal Andre Czwartek 4.5, Are
Tronseth 6, Raio Piiroja 6.5, Trond Erik Bertelsen 5, John
Anders Bjorkoy 5.5, Simen Brenne 6.5, Hans Erik Ramberg 7
MOM, Tarik Elyounoussi 6 (Raymond Kvisvik 88'), Mihaly Toth
5.5, Brian West 5.5 (Oyvind Hoas 82')
Valerenga: Arni Gautur Arason 5, Jarl Andre Storbaek 4.5,
Andre Muri 2.5, Kjetil Waehler 3.5, Allan K. Jepsen 3.5, Morten
Berre 3 (Jan Derek Sorensen 57' 3), Ardian Gashi 4 (Amund
Skiri 78'), Thomas Holm 4, Daniel Fredheim Holm 3 (Tore Andre
Flo 53' 5), Christian Grindheim 4, Freddy Dos Santos 4.5
More soon, including whether Rami will remain on EP!..
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forums
- Read reports on Rami in Rami
Shaaban's page
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