Strømmen Turn It Around as Odd's Winning Run Ends at Skagerak Arena

Odd's run of four straight league wins ended at Skagerak Arena on Sunday. Strømmen came from behind to win 2-1 after Odd led 1-0 at half-time. Head coach Per Frandsen admitted his side were simply not good enough.

A good start undone

Odd began the afternoon at Skagerak Arena with the momentum of four consecutive league wins. The hosts got the opening goal after 16 minutes, though they had help. Strømmen's Maximilian Balatoni tried to knock the ball back towards his own goal without knowing where his goalkeeper was standing, and it rolled into the net.

Odd led 1-0 at the break. The second half went the other way.

Strømmen turn it around

Just before the hour the visitors won the ball and broke forward. Kristengård got through and lifted it over Tim Erlandsson to make it 1-1 after 54 minutes. Strømmen then took the lead. A cross found the far post, where a Strømmen player met it with his body and got it over the line for 1-2.

Odd pushed for an equaliser. Villads Rasmussen shot from the edge of the box without luck. He and Söderberg were then replaced by Godwill Ambrose and Casper Glenna after 81 minutes. Jacob Vadstrup had a shot blocked in stoppage time, and Ambrose fired wide in the closing minutes. The equaliser never came.

Frandsen: not good enough

Head coach Per Frandsen was blunt afterwards. "We simply weren't good enough today," he said. He added that Odd had known it would be a tough game against a side that defends very well. "I think we could have played until New Year without scoring," he said. "We simply lacked quality today, and we just have to admit that."

The defeat leaves Odd fifth in the 1. Division on 45 points after 27games. Strømmen are tenth on 33 points. Stabæk, Odd's next league opponents, are fourth on 52 points, seven ahead of Odd. Odd have three league matches left in the ordinary season.

What comes next at Skagerak Arena

The stadium returns to action quickly. Odd host Sandefjord in the NM Cupen round of 32 on Wednesday 28 October, with kick-off at 6:00 PM. Sandnes ULF visit on Sunday 1 November at 5:00 PM.

For match days at Skagerak Arena, the gates open one hour before kick-off. The stadium has a capacity of 12,000, according to Soccerway. Supporters can expect the same rules as on Sunday: smoking is banned throughout the arena, and visibly intoxicated people are refused entry. Spectators should also be prepared for searches at the gates.

After a run of four wins that had lifted spirits in Skien, Sunday's setback was a disappointment. The cup tie against Sandefjord offers a quick chance to respond in front of the home crowd.

Sources: odd.no, fotmob.com, soccerway.com, odd.ticketco.events