Arendal overturned a first-half deficit to beat Froland 5:1 in the Norwegian Cup's opening round at Froland's ground on 22 August. The visitors had trailed through M. Hurvenes' 31st-minute strike before staging an emphatic second-half comeback. By then it was clear this was going to be a long afternoon for the hosts.
Hurvenes gave Froland hope when he found the net in the 31st minute, and Arendal failed to respond before half-time. To be fair, the home side had built something, but they never got out of second gear once the break came. And here's the thing about matches like this — momentum shifts faster than anyone expects.
E. Helgesen levelled in the 38th minute and then doubled Arendal's advantage just after the interval. The striker was back on target in the 52nd minute before K. B. Jorgensen added a third in the 55th. Three goals in 17 minutes ended any notion of a Froland fightback.
A. E. Nilsen made it four in the 73rd minute, and M. Kvinge sealed the victory with a late strike in the 88th. Arendal had been drawn against a side that could have been dangerous, but they punished them from nothing. One mistake ends it, and Froland made plenty.
The result sends Arendal through to the next round with authority. The visitors have not exactly been flying lately — a 3:3 draw with Jerv, a 0:1 loss to Notodden, and a heavy 0:3 defeat to Moss among their recent outings — but this performance was something else entirely. The clean-sheet run came to an end for Froland, but Arendal's cup ambitions have been properly lit.