Kópavogur edged Víkingur 2-1 in the 22nd round of Iceland's 1. Deild on Friday evening, a result that keeps them in fifth place on 36 points while the visitors remain second with 42.
They traded blows early on, with D. Radic giving the hosts the lead in the 50th minute before K. Karlsson levelled for Víkingur six minutes later. The match settled into a rhythm, and here's the thing — it was not until the 71st minute when N. Gunnarsson struck that Kópavogur seized control.
We had tipped the home side at 44 per cent confidence, and that callout proved sound. The visitors had looked the sharper outfit for stretches, yet Kópavogur kept their side in it through a patchy spell.
There were plenty of bodies thrown in the mix, with six substitutions across the final quarter-hour alone. T. Oskarsson, M. Ottesen, T. Gunnarsson, A. Andrason, K. Karlsson, G. Leosson, K. Sigfusson, A. Gunnarsson and J. Arnarsson all saw action as the game opened up.
The cards piled up toward the end, with five yellows shown after the hour mark. A. Gunnarsson, G. Tyrfingsson, B. Baldursson, I. Jonsson and T. Ingimundarson all went to the referee, along with an unnamed player in the 90th minute.
Statistically the sides were mirror images, each registering 50 per cent possession and similar shot counts. Kópavogur landed 10 shots on target against 10 off target, while Víkingur managed 7 on and 9 off.
The win narrows the gap between them, though the visitors still sit six points clear with a game in hand. Kópavogur had dropped points in three of their last five league outings before picking one up here.
