Pors Grønland edged Stabæk 2-1 in the Round of 64 of the Norwegian Cup at Pors Stadion on Tuesday evening. The hosts took the lead late on before the visitors equalised, only for a third goal in stoppage time to settle the match. Three goals in the final six minutes made for a fitful finish at a ground that rarely sees such drama.
A. Lie opened the scoring in the 87th minute, a moment that caught most watchers off guard. S. Ostby responded quickly, netting for Stabæk in the 90+2nd minute to level matters. And here's the thing — O. Johnsen then fired home for Pors in the 93rd minute to seal the victory. By then the visitors had little time to respond.
The statistics tell an odd story. Pors Grønland held 52 per cent possession but recorded zero shots on target and zero corners. Stabæk managed 48 per cent with one yellow card and still no shots registered on target. To be fair, the numbers don't capture a match decided in the closing exchanges.
Pors Grønland came into this tie on a run of results that included a 3-0 win over Jutul and a 6-0 demolition of Strømsgodset II. Stabæk, meanwhile, had lost 2-0 to Brønne on Saturday and followed that with a 2-3 defeat against Moss. We had pinned our hopes on the visitors, 53 per cent confidence in an away win, but the match refused to follow that script. The late collapse, and the late winner, broke the prediction completely.
Pors Grønland advances to the next round of the Norwegian Cup. Stabæk's campaign ends here, with the goal difference and the timing of these three goals marking the difference. The visitors had their chance to turn it around and simply ran out of time.