Viking 4-1 Sabah: Erik Botheim's brace turns an early deficit into a first win of the campaign
Sabah led inside 11 minutes through Orphé Mbina, but Erik Botheim scored twice either side of goals from Zlatko Tripic and Henrik Falchener as Viking came back to win 4-1, their first victory of this season's Champions League, with Sabah finishing with ten men.
Viking came from behind to beat Sabah 4-1 at home on Champions League matchday 4, scoring four unanswered goals after Orphé Mbina had put the visitors ahead inside 11 minutes. It is Viking's first win of this season's league phase.
An early Sabah lead, then a Viking response
Mbina opened the scoring in the 11th minute, converting a chance created by Umarali Rakhmonaliev. Erik Botheim levelled it for Viking in the 27th, assisted by Kristoffer Haugen, and the hosts took control from there: Zlatko Tripic made it 2-1 in the 69th minute, Henrik Falchener headed in a Tripic assist in the 81st, and Botheim completed his brace deep into stoppage time, in the 90+4th minute, set up by substitute Peter Christiansen.
Sabah finish the game with ten men
Aden McCarthy was sent off for Sabah in the 77th minute, and Umarali Rakhmonaliev and substitute Joy-Lance Mickels were both booked either side of it. Viking's Kristoffer Haugen and Gianni Stensness picked up yellow cards of their own inside the first 18 minutes.
First win of the campaign for Viking
Viking had opened the league phase with a defeat to VfB Stuttgart, followed by a 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich and a loss at Aston Villa — three matches without a win before this result. Sabah, who beat Slavia Praha on matchday 2 after an opening defeat to Manchester United, lost for the second time in three matches, having fallen to Borussia Dortmund on matchday 3.
Match facts
- 11' — Orphé Mbina (Sabah), assist Umarali Rakhmonaliev
- 27' — Erik Botheim (Viking), assist Kristoffer Haugen
- 69' — Zlatko Tripic (Viking)
- 81' — Henrik Falchener (Viking), assist Zlatko Tripic
- 90'+4' — Erik Botheim (Viking), assist Peter Christiansen
- 77' — Aden McCarthy (Sabah) sent off
| Stat | Viking | Sabah |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 50.5% | 49.5% |
| Shots on target | 8 | 4 |
| Corners | 10 | 6 |
| Fouls | 5 | 9 |
| Offsides | 4 | 3 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red cards | 0 | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 372/457 (81%) | 370/462 (80%) |
Line-ups
| Viking | Sabah |
|---|---|
| Arild Østbø | Stas Pokatilov |
| Henrik Falchener | Aden McCarthy |
| Gianni Stensness | Steve Solvet |
| Kristoffer Haugen | Tymoteusz Puchacz |
| Henrik Heggheim | Akim Zedadka |
| Simen Kvia-Egeskog | Abdulakh Khaybulaev |
| Tobias Moi | Ivan Lepinjica |
| Kristoffer Askildsen | Umarali Rakhmonaliev |
| Erik Botheim | Orphé Mbina |
| Zlatko Tripic | Veljko Simic |
| Henrik Bjørdal | Christian Nwachukwu |
What's next
Viking move to 22nd in the 36-club table on 4 points, inside the knockout play-off zone after their first win of the campaign. Sabah drop to 31st on 3 points, in the eliminated zone with half the league phase gone. Both are back in European action for matchday 5.
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