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| Stunned Viking go top again with 1 to go |
Against all odds and expectations, Viking South Utsira stole an extraordinary victory over reigning Xpert Ladies champions Black Sabbath this past Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run to seven league matches -- and, with results elsewhere also going their way, head into the final round of fixtures improbably top of the league.
The mighty four-time defending champions won the reverse fixture 1-0 back near the start of term, and were heavy favourites to get the win at Ragnar Rock that they needed to be challenging strongly for a fifth straight crown on the last day. Viking lost one young midfielder in Ingeborg Bjørnsmoen to injury inside half an hour and replaced her with another in the shape of Reidun Bohne, but what was otherwise their strongest lineup was as easily outplayed as you would expect by the hugely strong and experienced Sabbath. Seven minutes later the visitors had the perfect chance to break the deadlock when they were awarded a penalty, yet Ilone Kvalvik produced one of the stops of her career to deny Sabbath skipper Michelle Thakoerdien from the spot, and the Utsirans hung on to the interval outgunned but unbroken. Defender Ylva Hovland took a knock midway through the second half, but hobbled on as VelvetAndroid's side fought to hold onto a point that would keep them in the mix on the concluding day.
And then, somehow, an incredible twist of fate occurred. The Blood Eagles had not so much as threatened the away net all game, yet a minute into stoppage time they forced one last corner with the clock ticking down. And when Yasmine Klovning swung in the kick, her second-cousin Irja Klovning rose highest at the back post to thump a header past Karolina Fryxell and send the stadium into bedlam. The final whistle sounded moments later, and as news filtered in that leaders The Peach Blossoms had been held 0-0 at relegation-bound JAV Idols it became apparent that Viking were heading back to the Xpert Ladies summit for a third time in this most remarkable of seasons. Three clubs have realistic chances of snatching the trophy this coming Tuesday and four are mathematically in the hunt, but it is Android's women who hold pole position by a point from the Blossoms.
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