Valerenga saw off Kristiania BK 7-2 in the first round of the NM Cup on Saturday. The visitors opened the scoring inside three minutes and never looked back, running riot from start to finish. Kristiania had nothing to do all evening as Valerenga were overrun in midfield.
O. Saeter struck twice, including an early opener in the third minute, while A. Olsen added two more after the break. A. Labib bagged a pair in quick succession at 70 and 71 minutes, and D. Sereba finished off the scoring with two goals in the 87th minute, one from the penalty spot.
The statistics tell the story without embellishment. Valerenga held 59% possession and registered 14 shots on target compared to Kristiania's two. The high line was picked apart repeatedly, and the away end never stopped cheering as their side went through the motions.
It was an uncomfortable evening for the hosts, who managed just two corners and twelve goal kicks. By then, the result had long been decided, and Kristiania's defenders were simply trying to delay the inevitable.
Valerenga's recent form has been uneven — a 5-5 draw with Aalesund and a 1-2 loss to Bodø/Glimt among their last five — but they found their rhythm here. The support of the fans could be called devoted, but that is an assessment, not a fact. The fact is they moved up to third place with 10 points after this win.
