LILLESTRM (VG) (Lillestrm-Troms 1-1) Mads goalkeeper Hedenstad Christiansen (21) saved Lillestrm with a goal in the 94th minute as Troms drew 1-1 at råsen.

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He joined a free-kick and slotted the ball into the net from close range past fellow goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard.

It was the first time a goalkeeper had scored a match goal for Lillestrm. Frode Grodås did score in 1991 – but it was through a penalty kick. Also against Troms.

Henning Friise, Morten Bakke, Adin Brown and Håkon Opdal are other goalkeepers who have scored goals at the highest level in Norway.

– It’s a shame that the goalkeeper had the ball first, said Ruben Yttergård Jenssen of Troms.

– Why?

– No one should be left standing alone in this most sacred place with us, regardless of whether he is a goalkeeper or an outfielder.

– They didn’t mark the goalkeeper, just another, grinning substitute Pål André Heland.

– All kudos to Mads, who managed to stay calm there. But now he wants to attack every corner, continued the Lillestrm player.

– We concentrated on their stubborn players – and then the free keeper, Troms goalscorer Eric Kitolano told Discovery+.

Two-way match winner

– He was a game winner back there, now he’s scoring too, Lillestrm’s Vetle Dragsnes said of Mads team-mate Hedenstad Christiansen to Discovery+.

– I’m not asking anyone to be allowed to come forward. I decided for myself that I would do it. I have a good feeling. “It was great to see that it went to the finish line,” said Mads Hedenstad Christiansen.

– I’ve actually scored one goal before in the quarter-finals of NM boys 19, but this is the first in this series.

Troms goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard approaches Christiansen after the game.

– He told me that “now you have to stop messing around”, said the LSK goalkeeper.

Big opportunities

– We had some really big chances to decide in the second half, said Troms coach Gaute Helstrup.

– As a coach, have you ever received a back goal from a goalkeeper?

– No, I don’t remember!

Helstrup had to watch the game from the stands after the last red card. In his absence, Jørgen Vik and Ola Rismo led the TIL crew.

Penalty kick?

Pål André Helland believes he was conned for two penalty kicks.

– First the hands, then I was thrown to the ground like in wrestling, Helland told Discovery+.

The first half was agony for the Lillestrm fans. The hosts were unable to create anything, while Troms scored on their one chance.

Eric Kitolano beautifully took the ball from August Mikkelsen, dug in and then stood still and shot beautifully down the right, with no chance for Mads Hedenstad Christiansen. 0-1 at rsen.

– I’m satisfied with the takedown and I let him do the shots – and then I put him in the longest, Eric Kitolano told Discovery+ during the break.

– We’re so awkward, said Vetle Dragsnes of Lillestrm during the break.

Making trades

Geir Bakke made two first-half changes when he brought on Pål André Helland and Eskil Edh.

– It’s going slowly. Looks like we have Velcro under the shoe. It’s tough and tiring, Bakke told Discovery+ during a break.

Lillestrem pressed early in the second half and were more dangerous than before the break – but still struggled to create big chances.

– We didn’t get any stitches in the game in the first half. We were better in the second half, but we weren’t quite right. “It was a “bad” day at work, but I’m proud of the players that they’re back,” said Geir Bakke after the game.

LSK have now scored in 26 consecutive mandatory matches.

Thanks to a guard.

PS! Next Thursday, VG+ will broadcast the second leg between Royal Antwerp and Lillestrm in the European Conference League.