Valerenga U16 1 - 2 Aberdeen U16

Credit:

 

Aberdeen made it two wins from two with a 2-1 win over Valerenga in the day's third 1997 Elite tie.

 

The Norwegians started brightly, retaining more of the ball and generally passing smartly. However they were unable to convert their dominance into chances and the Scottish side slowly began to impose themselves on the game. Scott Wright was  making a nuisance of himself while Lewis Dunbar looked to create at every opportunity.

 

In the end of the opener came from a mistake from centre half Kasper Hansteen who played a free kick straight an Aberdeen player, then hauling him down outside the area. Michael Kelly stepped forward to place the resultant set piece beautifully beyond Joakim Lillekroken.

 

Left back Kelly continued to bomb forward in the second half shooting over 10 minutes after the break. Valerenga substitute Tarik Al Moussaoui sent a free kick wide of the post before Aberdeen had a Wright goal ruled out for offside.

 

Wright had another chance minutes later as he was put through one-one with Lillekroken; the keeper did well to dive in and retrieve the ball at the forward's feet.



 

It seemed cruel then that a mistake from the Norwegian stopper would end the game as a contest, fumbling a speculative long range effort from Dunbar into the net with 15 minutes to go.

 

A late rally and goal with a final kick of the game from Hanteen was not enough to save Valerenga from their third defeat.