Tromsø earned a resounding victory against last year’s series winners Molde, when they won 1-0 at the Romssa Arena. Despite some crazy chances, Erling Moe’s men failed to win their first league game of the season.

But it could have quickly ended differently when Molde had an adventurous chance going into the game.

Such a possibility caused the commentators and experts to widen their eyes.

Tromsø goalkeeper Haugaard saved a shot from about four meters out, and the ball bounced along the line before he picked it up. The gang at TV 2 studios are very unsure whether or not the ball actually went in.

– Already entered! Already entered! cried Marius Skjelbæk.

Brynhildsen reacted

Ola Brynhildsen’s Molde profile reacts to the fact that clear TV pictures of the mammoth opportunity have yet to emerge.

– When I saw it, it was locked inside. That TV picture can’t go in and see… Bad angle when they don’t have a working camera. They brought up the VAR and then the screen didn’t work. His equipment went wrong, but we can’t blame him today, Brynhildsen told NRK.

It is not known which camera may be out of action, but it is in Eliteserien VAR that has to see if the ball crosses the line or not. In other words, Norwegian football does not use goal-line technology, as it does in the Premier League, for example.

Brynhildsen went on to say that he reacted immediately when the situation arose.

– I ran straight at the referee. But the linesmen were out of work, and they didn’t have any TV pictures to show them. Then it will be like that.

– What do you think about the decisions that contradict each other?

– It’s typical. VAR has been inflated for so long, and then the first round series just didn’t work. It’s special, but we had enough chances to win the game in our favour. We can’t just blame him.

NRK has reached out to head judge Terje Hauge and competition director Nils Fisketjønn for comment. None of them have answered our questions yet.

Knut Kristwang, who is the VAR project manager at the Norwegian Football Association, said they were very pleased with how video refereeing would work in the first round of the series.

Some arenas have black VAR screens, meaning the referee cannot step in and see the situation on a screen on the sidelines.

In addition, there was a controversial incident in Tromsø.

– I can’t comment on that. The referees, in consultation with the VAR referees in the arena, have to decide that, so I have to leave it to them,” said Kristwang.

The coaches disagreed

Brynhildsen also found support from other men close to the situation. Tromsø goalkeeper Haugaard can’t decide if the ball goes in or not.

– I don’t know if it’s inside or outside. I’m not sure about that one. I have watched it 1000 times and I have no conclusion. It is on our side, he told NRK.

Molde coach Erling Moe had no doubts while watching the replay of his interview with NRK.

– It’s inside. I saw that, he said.

– So you think the ball went in?

– It looks like in the picture you showed me. But that’s how it is, we have to decide for ourselves. We make and earn quite a lot, and Tromsø have a fantastic goalkeeper.

Opposing coach Gaute Helstrup had a very different opinion.

– It’s not inside. I see it on the inside. It’s not over yet, believes the Tromsø manager.

– Are you sure about that?

– One hundred percent.

The goals didn’t hold up, and that meant that Molde would have had a terrible start to the season.

Norway could have taken the lead early in the second half when Sakarias Opsahl had a chance from the penalty spot. However, Molde goalkeeper Jacob Karlstrøm took the right path, and kept the cage clean for so long.

Five minutes later, Tromsø broke the deadlock. It was Vegard Erlien who tapped from 16 meters out, sending the home fans into the air. 1-0 is the final result.

– It will be a robbery of sorts, but Tromsø will be very happy with the way they ran the game, says TV 2 expert Erik Thorstvedt.

A glimpse of a strong start to the season

It is much better for their competitors from northern Norway.

Bodø/Glimt are pointed by many as the second big favorites to win the Eliteserien in 2023, and the yellow jerseys were sent off almost from kick-off.

Critically injured striker Sondre Sørli had the honor of scoring the first goal of the year for Glimt, when he slotted the ball into the net from 14-15 meters.

Glimt continued to charge towards the Sarpsborg goal, and before the quarter was played, last year’s silver medalist doubled. Joel Mvuka elegantly laid the ball to Denmark’s Albert Grønbæk, who sent the ball into the far corner with a neat finish.

For Sarpsborg, the game ended up being a nightmare. The blue jersey put the ball in the net, but after a VAR check, the referee concluded that Peter Reinhardsen was offside.

Later, the pain got worse when Jeppe Andersen received a straight red card after making a tough tackle on Isak Amundsen. Thus, the home team had to finish the match with ten men.

That made it nearly impossible for Eastfoldings to turn things around, and Glimt took the three points with him to Northern Norway.