15-year-old rescues Vålerenga after crisis-hit week

Gabriel Rajkovic gave Vålerenga a rare lift at the end of a turbulent week. The 15-year-old scored twice in stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw away to Sarpsborg in the Eliteserien on Sunday.

“An enormous feeling. The best I have ever felt,” Rajkovic told TV 2 almost immediately after the final whistle. His goal delivered a point for a club dealing with a rapid series of upheavals off the field.

On Aug. 30, Vålerenga announced that sporting director Joacim Jonsson would leave after four and a half years in the role. On the final day of the transfer window, the club sold captain Henrik Bjørdal to Viking for about 25 million kroner. The sale drew criticism from Vålerenga supporters and former captain Jonathan Tollås Nation.

The following morning, chairman Søren Eriksen resigned. Managing director Svein Graff defended the sale, saying it would strengthen the club’s finances for next year. The Norwegian Football Federation then said Vålerenga must explain how decisions on buying and selling players are made. The issue arose after it became known that a transfer committee involving central figures at the club had helped decide whether Bjørdal should be sold. Norwegian sports rules state that the member-owned club, rather than its limited company, should hold sporting authority.

The turmoil did not appear to affect Vålerenga’s players or traveling supporters in Sarpsborg. Fans filled the away section and sang throughout the match. Vålerenga created two early chances through Ghayas Zahid and Lucas Haren, but Sarpsborg goalkeeper Leander Øy stopped Haren and Zahid’s effort struck both Øy and the post. Sarpsborg took the lead through Claus Nyukuri, and Sondre Sørli made it 2-0 with a powerful free kick. Petter Strand pulled one back before Rajkovic’s late equalizer completed the comeback.

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An enormous feeling. The best I have ever felt.