Sarpsborg 08 drew 0-0 with Tromsø IL at Romssa Arena this week. The match was played under special circumstances with a national tribute to King Harald before kick-off.
How did the match unfold?
The game ended goalless but had its moments. In the 12th minute, Tromsø's 24-year-old attacker Heine Åsen Larsen had a goal disallowed for offside. Sarpsborg 08 goalkeeper Leander Øy was called into action to keep a clean sheet. He described his save after the match. "Det gikk mest på instinkt, at jeg måtte gjøre meg så stor som mulig," Øy told NRK Sport.
This was Sarpsborg 08's fourth consecutive league match without a win in the Eliteserien. The team currently sits ninth in the table with 22 points from 17 games, having recorded six wins, four draws and seven losses. They have scored 20 goals and conceded 23, giving them a goal difference of minus three. They trail league leaders Bodø/Glimt by 19 points. You can track the team's position on our standings page.
How was King Harald honoured?
Before kick-off, a joint national tribute was carried out across the Eliteserien and 1st division. The whole stadium was invited to sing the national anthem 'Ja, vi elsker'. There was also a minute of applause before the match started. Players, referees and staff wore mourning bands.
No ordinary advertising or commercial activity was permitted on the big screen or around the pitch. The usual player entrance and centre-circle ceremony was replaced with a special procedure. Players and referees formed an H-formation in the centre circle. Only Norwegian flags were allowed outside the arena, and the stadium flag was at half-mast.
Supporter leader Sivert Sørgård from Forza commented on the king's involvement in sport. "Han var en idrettskonge som var veldig engasjert, ikke bare i fotball, men all sport. Han var på Ullevål hver eneste cupfinale," Sørgård said.
What does this mean for Sarpsborg 08?
A draw away against a team in third place is a solid result considering the team's recent form. But the point extends a winless run. The team's recent results show a form line of LLDWD. The next challenge awaits on September 6th, when Sarpsborg 08 hosts Vålerenga at home. Vålerenga sits 11th in the table.
This home game is an opportunity for Sarpsborg 08 to reverse the trend and secure three important points. You can view the full schedule on our fixtures page. The team needs to rediscover a winning rhythm to secure a place in the top half of the table. With 20 games played and several key fixtures remaining, every single point is important for the final league position.
How did Tromsø IL fare?
For the hosts Tromsø IL, this was a disappointment following recent defeats. The team, led by captain Ruben Yttergård Jensen and coach Jørgen Vik, came into the match after a 2-3 loss to Molde in the previous league round. They also lost in the Conference League qualification against Brighton.
This became Tromsø IL's second consecutive match without a win. Despite this, they retained third place in the Eliteserien. Former TIL player Georg Paulsen was in attendance at Romssa Arena to watch the match. Tromsø's next league game is against Kristiansund.
Sarpsborg 08's focus is now entirely on preparations for the match against Vålerenga. Building on a defensively sound performance against Tromsø, the team will look to add more attacking threat at home. See who is available to play on our injuries overview.
