Bodø/Glimt Beat Viking 3-2 in Eliteserien Thriller as Both Managers Are Sent Off
Bodø/Glimt beat Viking 3-2 in a wild Eliteserien title clash at the Aspmyra Stadium on Friday night, October 30. The game had five goals in the first half, two own goals for the same player, and both managers sent off in first-half stoppage time. The result put Glimt level with Viking at the top of the table.
Glimt started like a train. Within four minutes, Jens Petter Hauge crossed from the right, and Viking defender Henrik Falchener turned the ball into his own net. Andreas Helmersen made it 2-0 after 15 minutes. Viking, who came in as league leaders, did not fold. In the 32nd minute, a corner from Zlatko Tripic found Kristoffer Haugen, who finished neatly to make it 2-1. Erik Botheim then nodded in a Haugen cross in the 39th minute to level the score at 2-2.
Glimt took the lead again just before the break. Hauge combined with Ulrik Saltnes, and his shot was deflected into the net off the unlucky Falchener in the 43rd minute. Falchener touched it for a second time in the match, but the goal was officially credited to Hauge after a correction. It was 3-2 at half-time.
The drama peaked in stoppage time. Viking's Kristoffer Askildsen hit Hauge with a hard challenge. Askildsen was shown a yellow card after a VAR check for a possible red. Tempers flared on the touchline. Cameras showed Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen pulling the cap of Viking's Morten Jensen, who is one of the club's two head coaches. Referee Espen Eskås showed both men a straight red card. They watched the rest of the game from the stands.
After the match, Knutsen said he regretted his actions and that he could not complain about the red card. Jensen said he did not understand why he had been sent off and had not been given an explanation.
There were plenty of crunching tackles in the second half, but no more goals. A crowd of 8,133 saw Glimt hold on for the win.
The result keeps the title race wide open. Before the game, Viking were three points ahead of Glimt. Glimt had lost 0-1 at home to Vålerenga in the previous round. Now both teams have 59 points from 25 games and the same goal difference. Viking stay on top of the table only because they have scored more goals. Both clubs also play in the league phase of this season's Champions League, which has added to the rivalry between the two sides.