Viking blitz Tromsø before the break to stay three clear of Glimt

Viking beat Tromsø 3-1 at Lyse Arena on Sunday, scoring all three goals before half-time. The win stretched their unbeaten league run to seven matches and kept them three points ahead of Bodø/Glimt. The two sides meet in the north next weekend.

A VAR call and a flying start

Viking's afternoon at Lyse Arena on Sunday did not begin smoothly. Erik Botheim thought he had put the hosts ahead after five minutes. VAR then ruled the goal out. The ball had touched an offside Zlatko Tripic before it crossed the line.

The decision did not knock Viking off course. They went on to build a lead that Tromsø never came close to challenging.

Three goals before the break

Viking took the lead through Christiansen. Henrik Heggheim then added the second after about half an hour. It came at the end of what reports described as a fine attacking move.

Botheim got his goal in the end. He headed the ball home in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-0. Viking went in at the break with a commanding lead, and Tromsø had little to hold on to.

The second half was far quieter for the home crowd. Jesper Grundt pulled one back for Tromsø deep into stoppage time, making it 3-1. There was no time left for the visitors to try a comeback.

Top of the table, and a trip north

The result extends Viking's unbeaten run in the Eliteserien to seven matches. After 24 games the club leads the table with 59 points, three clear of Bodø/Glimt on 56. Molde are third on 43. Tromsø stay fifth on 40 points.

The gap to Glimt sets up a big weekend. The top two meet in the north next weekend, and Viking will go there as leaders.

Before that, Viking have a midweek fixture on October 28 at 6:00 PM against KFUM Oslo, who are eighth on 30 points. The two clubs are also scheduled to meet again on November 8 at 5:00 PM.

For supporters, the win at Lyse Arena was another reminder of how strong the home form has been this season. It follows the 3-2 victory over Fredrikstad on October 17, when Viking matched their home record. The team now looks to carry that confidence into a busy run of fixtures.

Sources: dagsavisen.no, vikingfotball.no