Norway Eliteserien round-up: Bodø/Glimt go top after comeback victory; Molde drop to second after defeat

Jason Hamburger
September 3, 2021

The Playbook @genius_playbook

💫 Roger Schmidt’s #Benfica have been electric this season. Their form at the Estádio da Luz was the key:

🔴 45 goals
🔴 47.3 xG
🔴 6.7 shots on goal per game
🔴 34.5 touches in opp. box per game
🔴 33.9 line-breaking passes per game

#SLB38 | #EuAmoOBenfica twitter.com/slbenfica_en/s…

SL Benfica

@slbenfica_en

W FOR 𝑹𝑶𝑮𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑨𝑳𝑳 🔥🔥🔥

The Playbook @genius_playbook

🔴 @SLBenfica: campeões 🏆

A 3-0 win over Santa Clara sealed the deal for #Benfica, who claimed their record-extending 38th league title. It’s their first #LigaPortugal championship victory in four years. 🔥

#SLB38 | #EuAmoOBenfica

The Playbook @genius_playbook

📊 The game that lost @FCNordsjaelland the title.

@FCKobenhavn were handed the title by #fcn‘s loss to rivals @BrondbyIF. Nordsjaelland had more shots, more corners, and OVER 300 MORE completed passes (397-700).

But #Brøndby won where it matters most. ⚽️

#fcklive | #sldk

Saltnes double puts Bodø/Glimt on top

Bodø/Glimt came from behind twice to beat Tromso 3-2 to leapfrog rivals Molde into top spot in the Eliteserien.

Bodø/Glimt vant Slaget om Nord-Norge etter en vill andreomgang! 💛 Deeeilig! pic.twitter.com/LIWj5SzvAP

— FK Bodø/Glimt (@Glimt) August 29, 2021

After a goalless first half, where both sides were wasteful in front of goal, Tromso took the lead three minutes into the second half when August Mikkelsen turned brilliantly and played a delicious through ball to Eric Kitolano who dinked the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

Nine minutes later, Tromso goalkeeper Jacob Karlstrøm had his pass intercepted and the champions capitalized.

Amahl Pellegrino was played through and he curled a shot into the far corner to leave the goalkeeper with no chance.

Denne betydde mye! 💛
Nord-Norge e 🟡 pic.twitter.com/da1jESixuE

— FK Bodø/Glimt (@Glimt) August 29, 2021

In a crazy spell of three goals in 11 minutes that started with Pellergino’s goal, defender Isak Amundsen tapped in from Eric Kitolano’s cross to put the hosts back in the lead.

But Kjetil Knutsen’s side are resilient and don’t give in. Two minutes later, Ulrik Saltnes picked the ball up just outside the penalty area and thrashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

It was his fifth league goal of the season and scored his sixth with a flicked header with three minutes to go to seal all three points for Bodø/Glimt.

It was their tenth win of the season, while Tromso slipped to their eighth defeat of the season and are just two points above the relegation zone despite the encouraging display.

Molde fall to second

Molde were five points clear just over two weeks ago but that lead has evaporated with two successive defeats.

#TakkStian 💙 pic.twitter.com/H51onCXthU

— Molde Fotballklubb (@Molde_FK) August 31, 2021

They were beaten 2-0 by Kristiansund to fall to second in the table after goals from Moses Mawa and Agon Mucolli.

Other results

Elsewhere, Ibrahima Kone scored four as Sarpsborg beat Sandefjord 5-0, while Viking came from a goal down to beat Rosenborg 2-1.

There is now an international break and Bodø/Glimt will resume their season on 11 September against Odd, while Molde will face Mjøndalen, who have lost four of their last five games.