2023/24 – Frigg (U14) 2 v 3 Hødd (U14)

Ekeberg Kungstress, Norway Consolation Cup Final, 4/8/23

Me 286, Wee Man 159

Talk about taking random games to a new level. Here we found ourselves up in the gods above Oslo in the Ekeberg area. As we strolled seeing the sites earlier in the day it was very noticeable there was an influx of young football teams in and around the city centre doing the same as us. As we sat for a beer and and Fanta in a juicer on Karl Johan Gate, basking in the sun the reason for the youths in fitba tracksuits became apparent as all the lamp posts were decorated in “The Norway Cup” signs which I gathered was a International youth tournament. Then coincidentally, Bruce, an ex pat Buckie loon who were to meet for the Skeid game text saying his work mates loons were in a final for Frigg Oslo and we could make it before the nights real entertainment. Ach why not.

After the steep ascent from the city centre to Ekeberg I couldn’t believe the size of the tournament. More pitches than I could count, a huge stage that wouldn’t have looked out of place at Donington Monsters Of Rock and really it was a site that resembled a music festival. The Frigg game was to be played on a one of the proper pitches fenced in (BSK). Once we finally found it there was a game finishing up. I could not tell you who it was between but it was U18s. We had a gander of the final stages. It threw up something incredible. A Martin Palermo wannabe. During the match the red team were awarded a penalty and their big number 8 missed. The game went to extra time and penalties. During the shoot out the 8 stepped up and hit a worm burner which the keeper easily saved. The lino stepped in a said the keeper was off his line. Up stepped 8 again and he went for power this time and rattled the bar. I will probably never see three pens missed by the same player again. A shame for the loon but funny all the same.

Then the game we were there for. I was quite up for it too just for the sheer randomness of it it all. There was not much in the opening minutes both teams pushed forward. The only difference being fellow Norwegian side Hødd looked more composed on the ball. Interestingly we are to see the professional Hødd on Saturday when they visit Mjondalen. More interestingly I had seen the Frigg full team on my last visit to Oslo. Hødd eventually went up 1-0 when their forward was left clean through on goal to finish from close range. This much to the dismay of the near three deep sideline we were on. Before the half was out it was 2 v 0 when the Hødd number 10 blasted in an un-saveable effort late on in the half. Frigg’s incoming second half job looked to be a tough one. Personally I thought it was game over from here.

HT 0 v 2

At the break Bruce said to me that this team (who he had seen a few times in the past) will either shit the bed more so or comeback with a bang as he had seen it all with them. The latter was what transpired with a totally different approach being played second half. An early deficit halfer came leading to mums running screaming up the touchline. From here the local side presed for an equaliser and it came but rather fortuitously if you ask me. What looked like a miscue when Friggs wee forward(number 60, madness) managed to get the ball up and over the keeper. It was not a true hit for sure and was aided by the lead in the boots of the Hødd keeper but they all count and it looked like it was going to end in glory for the Oslo boys and the were unlucky not to take the lead when their very decent 9 blasted an effort over the bar. The game went to extra time with Frigg still looking like winning it. Unfortunately this was not the case and with the last kick of the ball Hødd stole the victory and the cup(more unfortunately we missed it by a minute as we had to nip off to get to Skeid.

Random way to spend some time, but great to see such a festival on the go. I played in one in Apeldoorn back in the day and also watched the AIFF in Aberdeen a few times. Both had nothing on the Norway Cup in terms of sheer size.