Start secured a narrow victory over Odd in the 17th round of the women's 1. division on Saturday, winning 1-0 at the Odd stadium. The result keeps the visitors at the summit of the table while Odd remain rooted in seventh place. T. Toft proved decisive, scoring the only goal of the contest in the thirteenth minute.
And here's the thing — the decisive moment arrived early, before Odd could settle into any rhythm. Toft found space and finished clinically, sending the ball past the keeper to give Start the lead. Odd pressed forward afterward, but the goal had already shifted the complexion of the game.
For Odd, the defeat leaves them with nine points from eight matches: two wins, three draws and three losses. They've been inconsistent this season, alternating between victories and heavy defeats. Their recent form shows a 2-4 loss to Fyllingsdalen, a 0-3 defeat to Arna-Bjørnar, and a 1-1 draw with Frigg Oslo — neither streak particularly encouraging.
Start, meanwhile, remain unbeaten after eight games with twenty points. Six victories and two draws keep them clear at the top, and this result extends a run of strong performances. Their last five matches include a 3-1 win over Kolbotn, a 5-2 victory against Viking, and a 5-0 thrashing of Frigg Oslo — though they did suffer a 0-3 setback to Arna-Bjørnar along the way.
By then, the gap between the sides had widened further. Start sit eleven points clear of Odd in the standings, and that margin feels more significant than the single goal on the scoreboard. Odd will need to find consistency if they want to close the gap, while Start look increasingly comfortable in the lead.