Icelandic Football
2011-08-29 - Stjarnan Gardabaer vs FH Hafnarfjordur
A Sports Betting Pick by Cornholio
Football : Icelandic top league - Round 17
Monday August 29 2011, Kickoff 19:15 (GMT)
The close neighbours from Gardabaer and Hafnarfjordur have had different runs lately. While the former have slowed down the latter have been on fire and need to keep like that to stay in reach of the title.
Stjarnan Gardabaer
Each time Stjarnan have come within reach of the top flight they lose their grip and now seem to be going too far from the battle of the European places. While not losing in last four games Stjarnan have also only won one game of last five.
After escaping with a 2-2 draw at home against Fram they played better away against KR where the match resulted in 1-1 where Stjarnan could’ve easily have gotten all three points. Being a bit unstable Stjarnan now sit in 5th place with 24 points and an overall record of 6 6 4, 31:25. They have scored the second most in the league but their defense isn’t strong enough to keep them in the top battle.
Stjarnan have been decent at home with 4 3 1, 19:11, compared to 2 3 3, 12:14, away. Keeping a clean sheet in just two games and conceding in last 13 isn’t a good record going into the games against FH who have score the most in the league along with KR Reykjavik. However, Stjarnan have only failed twice this season to score in the league. Tightening their defense in this game is especially important since FH have only conceded one goal in last four games.
Stjarnan’s two Danish midfielders left the club some rounds ago and this seems to be having a negative effect on the team. Their manager will also be having a difficult job of motivating his players now that they are slowly losing their sight on the European spot.
Stjarnan’s key in this game will most certainly be to score goals, and more than one if they are going to win. This can provide to be very diificult against a team who are currently on a great run and keeping their defense quite tight.
FH Hafnarfjordur
After a slow start FH have been on fire lately winning last five games and conceding only one goal in last four. This run has brought them into the 3rd place with 31 points, only four points behind leaders KR who have played one game less.
FH overall record is 9-4-3, 33:19, and they are great at home with 6-2-0, 23:8, but a bit worse on the road with 3-2-3, 10:11. However their record in last six away is 5-1-0, 12:5. FH have only twice failed to score in the league this season, against KR and Valur, two very strong defenses. However, they have scored the most in the league and really should be able to net some against Stjarnan’s pretty dodgy defense.
While KR don’t lose FH can not afford any slip ups since the former still have one game in hand. If FH can manage to keep on their perfect run KR’s lead would be cut down to a single point if the latter would lose their extra game against Keflavik. This fact is certainly known to the FH’s players and their manager who will do anything to keep the spirits high in his group.
FH’s captain, Matthias Vilhjalmsson, has been especially strrong in recent games and seems to be the key player in FH’s run. They have been showing their old self by attacking fast up and down the flanks creating many chances to give their opponenst a tough time.
FH will certainly be looking to pressure Stjarnan’s defense and if they manage to score Stjarnan could be in for a bad day since FH have done good lately in keeping clean sheets.
Head to head
FH won 3-0 in Hafnarfjordur earlier this season. In 2010 FH won here 1-4 while losing 1-3 at home. In 2009 won here, again with 1-4 and won at home 5-1.
The Betting Verdict
Firstly there is the famous motivation factor. FH have to win to keep in the hunt for KR while Stjarnan might seem to be too far away from the top battle. However, a win for Stjarnan would of course mean that they could be members of that battle again.
It’s highly unlikely that Stjarnan can keep their goal clean against fast attacking FH. FH have only conceded one in last four so Stjarnan might have it difficult to produce a goal.
Four of last five games between the two have went over 3.5 goals and all five over 2.5.
I’m pretty confident FH will win this one and keep the pressure on KR and once again I’m expecting a high scoring affair between these two neighbours.
BEST BETTING TIP :
Main bet :Take FH Hafnarfjordur to win @ 2.0 (Interwetten)
Side bet :
Consider Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.4
