(Avaldsnes – LSK Women 0-2) Having been shielded from the media ahead of the second round of the series, John Arne Riise (41) and Avaldsnes followed up with their second straight defeat at Toppserien on Sunday.

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This time it was LSK Women who became too strong, after scores from Signe Holt Andersen and Malin Brenn. LSK wins are based on fully deserved play and odds. In the end, they also had several chances to score the third goal of the day.

– When you have a youth team and lose 6-0, it is easy for the youth team to collapse, so today was good to see that they were mentally prepared. They’re taking big strides and there’s a few who’ve gone up a few miles from last weekend, Riise said to NRK.

According to the general manager of Avaldsnes, Norvald Audun Kaldheim, it is the club that makes the decisions about the protection and not the main character himself against this match.

– We saw that it takes energy to line up all the time. Riise isn’t just anyone. Now he can do what he does, which is to be a football coach, Kaldheim told NRK earlier this week.

The criticism didn’t come long after Avaldsnes’ decision to protect Riise. “It’s all reminiscent of an own goal from the first kick”, wrote VG commentator Leif Welhaven.

«With all due respect, Avaldsnes will protect a coach and profile (John Arne Riise) after a game in a club and league that both want and deserve more attention than I can understand from the outside. Looks like an own goal at a crossroads”, wrote football expert Lars Tjærnås on Twitter when the case came to light. NRK expert Carl Erik Torp also critical of Riise.

However, after the loss to LSK Women, John Arne Riise denied that he had been covered. He was very upset by the comments on VG:

– I got it with me there, and then he Welhaven should really get that six days ago the club came out and said that that’s not what they meant, it was a conversation. But Welhaven clearly doesn’t understand, said Riise.

NRK writes that clubs share one the article behind the payment wall from Haugesunds Avis on Facebook where the club’s sponsor and marketing manager, Lene Tnnessen, said Riise wasn’t protected, but they had to control their timing. Going forward, he will be available to the press after the game and at the appointed time on Monday and Friday.

– I don’t really care what the media writes, I do my job and enjoy it and enjoy working with girls. The media also have work, so I can only accept it, Riise told NRK.

Defending league champions Brann are top of the table, on a better goal difference than Rosenborg, Vlerenga and LSK Women. The fire knocked out neighbors Arna-Bjørnar 7-0. The league leaders’ goal difference after two league rounds is 12-2.

Brann’s score that afternoon was served twice by Elisabeth Terland, Svava Gudmundsdottir, Lisa Naalsund, Marit Lund, Ingrid Ryland and Rakel Engesvik.

In Bærum, Rosenborg had to fight even harder for the points. Stabæk continued to hold on until one hour into play, before Sara Kanutte Fornes’ space gave the visitors a 2-1 and 3-1 lead. Zara Jönsson cut time with 20 minutes remaining, but Trøndelag pulled the win ashore.