Sarpsborg 08 crushed Aalesund 4-2 away at Color Line Stadion to secure a vital win in their battle against relegation. The victory was their first in the Eliteserien since July and lifts them to a safer ninth place in the table with 28 points.
Early control
Eirik Wichne put Sarpsborg ahead in just the fifth minute. After the break, Sondre Sørli and Noa Williams made it 3-0 before Olaus Skarsem converted a penalty for 4-0 after an hour. Aalesund's Hagen pulled two goals back late on, but it was too little, too late.
"Hagen tried his luck from distance, and the ball went in via a defender," said Hagen after the match.
The win came after a poor run of form where Sarpsborg 08 had lost three of their last four matches, taking just one point. For Aalesund, the defeat was a heavy blow in the relegation fight, with little consolation found in Paul Ngongo's return from a long-term injury.
The match was a repeat of last year's 4-2 win against the same opponent. Next up is a tougher challenge at home against Rosenborg, who sit fifth. Sarpsborg's top scorer this season, D. Karlsbakk with seven goals, will be key to securing points in that fixture as well.
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Noa Williams, who scored and provided an assist in the 4-2 win over Aalesund on October 11th, admits the transition to the Eliteserien has been tougher than expected. "I was probably a bit naive," said the winger. The team, sitting ninth with 28 points, has scored 28 goals in 22 games this season.
Aalesund manager Kjetil Rekdal was dissatisfied after the 4-2 defeat. "After 2-0 we don't hang together at all. Four goals conceded is far too much," Rekdal said. Sarpsborg 08, who have scored 28 goals this season, secured their first win in seven games.
