It feels like Sogndal have saved themselves from relegation by the slenderest of margins after edging out Aalesund on goal difference on the last day of the season, but they have of course got a tricky two game tie against OBOS-ligaen play-off winners Ranheim before anything gets decided. Eirik Bakke won't be opening the champagne yet but at least he saw his side show plenty of fighting spirit as they knocked Valerenga off their stride in a crazy second half spell and sent the Oslo side home with a 5-2 defeat at Fosshaugane. That was enough to keep them up for now, and Bakke will be extremely delighted that they managed to pull off what feels like a great escape. Sogndal really looked down for the count once Aalesund managed to beat Rosenborg a couple of weeks ago, but the 1-1 draw against Stabaek at Nadderud in their last away game proved decisive, and they were fortunate to be playing a side who had nothing much to play for in the last game of the season.
It was always going to be a season of struggle for Sogndal, as it always is. They are a small fish in a big pond in the top tier of Norwegian football and that isn't going to change any time soon. But Bakke was dealt a cruel blow when top attacker Ole Amund Sveen was ruled out for the rest of the season, practically before a ball had been kicked. And the injury list just kept piling up throughout the campaign with Bakke having to reshuffle and reorganise his starting eleven on a weekly basis. It made for very little consistency and Sogndal had to grind out any result they could muster. With Kjetil Waehler coming out of retirement to marshal the back four things looked to be going the right way. But an almighty slump saw them just win twice in their last ten games this autumn. Crucially the first of those victories came against Aalesund at Color Line Stadion, and they saved their second win for when it truly mattered last Sunday.
It's been hard to find consistency for Sogndal this season, but Bakke has utilised his side superbly. Gilbert Komsoon was a stand out again in midfield, but even better was the efforts of young loanee Chidiebere Nwakali, a player much too good for this team but who chipped in fantastically well throughout the campaign. His attitude was spot on and he seemed to relish the opportunity of playing week in week out no matter how mediocre the team. He had a horrible campaign with Start last year, when they were relegated long before the autumn nights were closing in, and he seemed determined not to suffer the same fate with Sogndal.
Two games remain for Sogndal to secure their Eliteserien place and, while they are favourites to keep their contract, they are facing a side who are a completely unknown quantity. Ranheim have had a completely different season and will be full of optimism after a campaign where they reached the final play off round. Sogndal will be fatigued, and still drained from the emotional rollercoaster of Sunday. If they perform like they did against Valerenga in the home leg, it will all be over very soon. But Bakke should be wary of Ranheim. He will have to get his personnel and tactics spot on for one last time.
