Ten-goal thriller at Jotun Arena as Sandefjord and Molde draw 5-5

Sandefjord and Molde shared ten goals in a wild 5-5 draw at Jotun Arena on Sunday. Sondre Granaas equalised for Molde in the 90th minute, after Sandefjord's Evangelos Patoulidis had scored a hat-trick.

A first half of swings

Sandefjord started fast. Evangelos Patoulidis scored in the opening minute, and Vetle Walle Egeli made it 2-0 with nine or ten minutes played. Molde pulled one back through Caleb Zady Sery, and Patoulidis restored the two-goal lead by making it 3-1 in the 25th minute.

Molde answered again. Kristian Lonebu scored twice, in the 28th and 35th minutes, to level the match at 3-3. In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Sandefjord defender Gustav Højbjerg put through his own net. Molde went in at the break 4-3 up, and Sandefjord had led twice and still trailed.

Patoulidis completes his hat-trick

Patoulidis scored his third of the evening early in the second half, a goal that made it 4-4. Bendik Berntsen then put the hosts 5-4 up with around six minutes left. A famous home win looked close.

Sondre Granaas had other ideas. He equalised for Molde at 5-5 in the 90th minute. Norwegian media called the match a goal feast and an incredible spectacle for neutrals. For both sides it was a disappointing finish, as Sandefjord had come so close to taking all three points.

A full house for Breddeklubbenes Dag

The game was played on Breddeklubbenes Dag, the day set aside for Norway's smaller clubs. The club reported that 4,442 spectators came to Jotun Arena. They saw ten goals, with the lead changing hands several times and the equaliser arriving at the very end.

The point leaves Sandefjord 13th in the Eliteserien with 28 points from 26 games. That is four ahead of 14th-placed Aalesund on 24 points. Bottom club Start have 19 points.

For Molde, the draw has consequences at the other end of the table. They are fifth on 44 points, two behind third-placed Rosenborg and one behind fourth-placed Lillestrøm. According to Norwegian media, they are currently out of the European places with four rounds left.

For Jotun Arena, the 5-5 will be remembered as one of the most remarkable matches the ground has seen. Patoulidis scored a hat-trick, Sandefjord led twice and Molde equalised in the 90th minute.

Sources: sandefjordfotball.no, tv2.no, nettavisen.no, nrk.no