I know, most of you are edging like <insert funny anecdote> about the top European Leagues returning back this weekend, so you might not be too excited to read about matches in Europe’s 47th best top division (as things stand) but there’s still football being played here and while that’s going on, I’m definitely going to be keeping a close eye on the action on the volcanic island I call home. Three matches have caught my eye for the weekend and here’s my verdict on them.
Friday 5th August
Afturelding vs. HK
Icelandic 1. Deild (Lengjudeildin)
Malbikstöðin að Varmá, Mosfellsbær
20:15 BST
The verdict: Goals, goals, and more goals? Yes please
After a really slow start result wise to 1. Deild, Afturelding are red hot and have been hammering in goals like their sponsor hammers out bang-average music (the band Kaleo is their main jersey sponsor). If there’s ever a time to turn the performance up to 11 it’s here as league leaders HK are a worthy opponent in similarly great form for scoring goals.
Afturelding acquired somewhat of a coup in the summer transfer window in Spanish forward Javier Ontiveros from Navalcarnero and Belgian Marciano Aziz on loan from Eupen. Both have already made a massive impact and Aziz – mentioned by a 1. Deild expert as probably one of the best players to ever play at this level – has scored 5 goals in 4 matches.
In 14 matches, Afturelding have scored 28 goals and scored 22, meaning their average match sees them score two and concede at least one. It was, however, late June that their goal-scoring form skyrocketed and in their last 7 have seen 22 goals scored and 12 conceded and the former bottom feeders are punching up.
HK, who were relegated from the top tier last season after a close fought battle for survival. While still keeping most of their key players as the new season started, long serving head coach Brynjar Björn Gunnarsson got an offer he couldn’t refuse – trying to revive struggling Örgryte in Swedish Superettan. The new manager bounce is still going strong for HK and despite their new coaching team defeated in their debut, they haven’t looked back and are undefeated in 10 of 11 with Ómar Ingi Guðmundsson at the wheel. HK has scored 2 or more themselves in the last 6, both teams have scored in 5 of their last 6 and their last 8 have seen two or more goals. A new challenge for HK is however the absence of winger Valgeir Valgeirsson who finally got his first move abroad – Örebro in Superettan snatched him up mid season.
While HK and Fylkir hold a comfy lead with Fylkir at the top of the table, Afturelding know that if they are to mount a challenge on the top two places a victory versus HK will be an important step forward. However, third Fjölnir (23pts) and joint 4-6th Grótta and Vestri (22 pts, same as Afturelding) will benefit from it equally. Still I’d reckon the style Afturelding utilizes doesn’t allow for Mourinho-esque parking of the bus and offence is the best defence, no? A stronger Afturelding should be expected to utilize the absence of HK’s best player through and through in the past seasons although the visitors have ample qualities to bag a goal here.
KV vs. Grótta
Icelandic 1. Deild (Lengjudeildin)
Auto Park, Reykjavík
20:15 BST
The verdict: A walk(over) in the park
It’s a quasi-rivalry in Reykjavík’s west end as KV host Grótta. Rookies KV haven’t exactly been disproving the pre-season cynics as they’re comfortably 11th and set for a return to the third tier again. With 8 points after 14 matches, 18 goals scored and 36 conceded they’re a side that usually gives entertaining matches, evident in their last match versus underperforming Kórdrengir when they took an early lead, blew it and then clawed back a late equalizer to make it 2-2. The reverse between the sides saw Grótta claim an easy 5-1 victory. Grótta, on the other hand have been in fine form contrary to the pre-season prediction of a lowly 9th place finish and are still in contention for promotion, sitting 4th on 22 points but still tied on points with Afturelding and Vestri.
As mentioned above, KV have really struggled to keep goals out this season and they’ve conceded two or more goals in 12 out of 14 matches. They themselves however do contribute to the overall goal tally of matches as they rarely fail to score, in fact they’ve scored in 12 out of 14 matches as well. However – and very importantly – they have three key players suspended for this one. Having been outscored far too often that’s a tough pill for the struggling relegation fodder to swallow.
After absolutely insane scenes after Grótta’s last match against HK their high-flying head coach Chris Brazell will be sitting this one out (unprofessional conduct after the match) as well as two players. While they do have replacements missing out on key player Arnar Þór Helgason might make them tremble a bit at the back. It’s well worth noting that their defense with their main orchestrator has not shut out opponents opportunites and while having scored 29 as of now, 20 goals have went past the Grótta defense. Grótta sold their young keeper Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson mid-season 2021 to Elfsborg and current goalie Jón Rivine isn’t of the same caliber. There’s no denying their firepower has been superb and league’s current top scorer Kjartan Kári Halldórsson has been attracting interest from the bigger clubs, namely Breiðablik which is proving a go-to club for young talent nowadays – not the very least since former Grótta coach and current Breiðablik coach Óskar Hrafn Þorvaldsson is at the helm of football philosophy overhaul in Icelandic football.
Saturday 6th August
Elliði vs. ÍH
Icelandic 3. Deild
Wurth völlurinn, Reykjavík
15:00 BST
The verdict: There will be goals (possibly blood too)
The most exciting league in Iceland is the fourth tier – as the third phase of the league is underway it’s very tight and everything to fight for. The top four spots seem to rotate very regularly, 5th-8th are all tied on 20 points and the teams in focus here are 9th (Elliði on 18 points) and 11th (ÍH with 10 points).
Elliði are experiencing a major nosedive as they’ve collected only two points from their last 5. Whilst July kicked off in fashion for them as current league leaders/cupset kings of 2022 Dalvík/Reynir suffered a 5-2 defeat, Elliði seemingly had done all they could and basically laid the red carpet to the back of their net – conceding 17 goals in those five matches, who finished 1-1, 2-7, 2-2, 1-3 and 1-4 – where their last match did not do ÍH any favors as the defeat helped the team above them tremendously.
ÍH should hope that the Fylkir reserve side will be as charitable to them as a win will allow them to drift away from hopeless KH at the bottom (only 8 points) and put the pressure on 10th placed Vængir Júpiters who’ve seen players returning to their parent club Fjölnir in the last transfer window with little coming their way. ÍH have been a mainstay of mine for goals this season for the simple reason they’re very adept at scoring them as well as conceding them – 27 scored in 14 whilst opponents have scored 37 against them. 12 of those have seen 3+ goals, 11 of those have seen 4+ goals, 13/14 have seen their opponents score and ÍH have scored in 11. It’s interesting to note as well that in both sides are two of the top scorers in the league; Elliði’s Pétur Óskarsson with 10 goals and ÍH Arnar Sigþórsson, having scored 9 goals.
Sunday 7th August
KR Vs. ÍBV
Icelandic Premier Division (Besta Deildin)
Frostaskjól, Reykjavík
18:00 BST
The verdict: Visitors keen on set pieces
The old guard (and most disliked club) in Icelandic football, KR, are having a pretty lackluster season. As things stand, they’re not quite impressive enough to be contesting the inaugural Top 6 playoffs and still not bad enough to be in imminent relegation danger. KR however still can rest their hopes on still being in contention for the domestic cup as their league performance lately has been woeful – 6 matches without a win of the last 7, and their performance at home has been unimpressive. They can best be described in Shakespeare-esque terms as “mehh”. ÍBV recorded their first win three matches ago – coinciding with the presence of former Iceland national team manager Heimir Hallgrímsson (a local ÍBV hero and undoubtedly one of the greater Icelandic coaches) on the bench, teaming up with the friendly nutcase and current coach Hermann Hreiðarsson. Since their first win, they’ve won and drawn and those 7 points have allowed them to ease themselves away from the drop zone for the time being.
One impressive feature of ÍBV this season has been their prowess in corners. Currently the 4th highest corner-seekers of the league their performance for team corners away from home is impressive. 2-8-7-6-4-9 is the count of ÍBV corners taken away from home, giving them a 6.57 average. What works with ÍBV here is the fact they’ve seen better rest than KR who took one of two long-distance journeys this season last Tuesday to finally record a win versus KA.
Speaking of KR match against KA, they could thank a sub-par referee for the win as he basically hand delivered the three points to the visitors with shoddy decisions in their favor. Despite KA bombarding KR for 70 minutes or so, KR took the W. As mentioned, KR don’t have a lot of chances of league success and they’ll rest continental hopes for the cup, it doesn’t mean they won’t try! Immensely proud and marred by both an aging squad struggling to keep up with a tight schedule and fringe players who’ve been rotated in and out of the squad. Can imagine KR will want to take an early lead and sit back – perfect for opposition corners!
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