Vålerenga captain: – We were too cowardly – Aftenposten

A dream goal sent Vålerenga in the lead. But Oslo-created mess away victory. Captain Christian Grindheim said his team was too cowardly.

Lillestrom – Valerenga 1-1

ÅRÅSEN (Aftenposten): In just over 40 years, Lillestrom and Brann met 69 times: The teams have 23 wins each. And the last 23 have ended a draw. Goal difference? 82-80 in favor Lillestrom.

Lokalderbyene between these tend to be regular and intense. Also this time: 1-1 after a close battles were almost as pre-ordered.

Praktmål from Fredheim Holm

But Vålerenga was long best lead: after a stunning finish from 25 meters Daniel Fredheim Holm signed.

Lillestrom came back in the second half. Needless, believed Vålerenga camp.

– We were too cowardly, says Captain Christian Grindheim.

– We are beginning to think the consequences of any breach. But first we thought no consequences at all. When we played at two and three touch around them. But suddenly it starts to sneak anything in the second half, says Grindheim, and thinking about opening quarter of the second half when Lillestrom pushed violently and had three giant opportunities.

Vålerenga players looked stunned.

– When will be the main priority that we should not concede. And then there will be fast to cleanse away. We got a couple of chances against and felt that we had in the game anymore. We were afraid to make mistakes.

Coach Kjetil Rekdal says that players were told to “control the ball, control the game and let Lillestrom be ongoing between.”

– We is under development and there was no reason why we should be cowards. There were no messages that were given that we would put us behind. We got punch us a quarter, but then you have to free yourself and do not give away the ball to opponent. We had to get some passes to open up the game. I thought that we could Langre periods but not in the quarters after the break, concluded Rekdal.

Talk about penalty

Lillestrøm got their equalizer on a penalty by Johan Andersson midway through the second half. It was deserved Lillestrom were joined by points of the game, but there were differing opinions on what was a penalty or not.

Erling Knudtzon gone down after a duel with Simon Larsen. Vålerenga camp was determined that Larsen took the ball.

Lillestrøm coach Runar Kristinsson thought at first that it was a questionable penalty. After watching the replay on C More, he was still in doubt.

– The negotiable. It is unfortunately the case that it can be wrong occasionally, he said.

Published: 03.mai. 2015 7:54 p.m.