Vålerenga Fotball advanced in the NM Cup with a clear 7-2 victory over Christiania on Sunday. The first-round match was decided by a dominant first-half performance and a brace from forward Ole Sæter.
The 30-year-old striker Sæter set Vålerenga on the path to victory. He scored two goals to make it 2-0 and then 3-0, with the team playing excellent attacking football in the first half. Lucas Haren, the team's top scorer this season with 7 goals in 16 appearances, also contributed with one of the goals.
Gabriel Rajkovic, just 15 years old, got playing time in the attack and put his name on the scoresheet with Vålerenga's sixth goal. This highlights the depth in the squad's attacking options. Aaron Kiil Olsen, Abdoulie Jatta, and Promise Meliga also found the net in a convincing team effort. Goalkeeper Sander Lønning made his debut for the club between the posts.
In other first-round cup matches, there were also clear victories for Eliteserien clubs. Sandefjord won away against Eidanger with a massive 15-0 scoreline, where Sebastian Holm Mathisen accounted for five of the goals. The team scored seven goals from the 75th minute onwards. HamKam also secured a place in the second round with a 5-0 away win against Trysil. Brann won 4-0 away against Fyllingen from the 6th division, with goals from Kristian Eriksen, Niklas Castro, Bård Finne, and Julian Lægreid.
The win gives Vålerenga confidence and momentum ahead of the next challenge. The team's offensive strength was demonstrated with multiple scorers, which is positive for the competition for places. To see how this affects the team's statistics, check our stats page.
This cup victory is an important step for Vålerenga Fotball. With a balanced squad and several players proving themselves in front of goal, the team appears to have good foundations to perform well in the subsequent rounds. Attention can now turn to preparations for the important league match against Sarpsborg.
