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SOCCER MEDIA REPORTS:

RHIAN - CANADIAN BIG FOOT 21st April 2009

Translations by Per Kristiansen

The Norwegian media made a great fuss of Rhian's goal from a free kick on Sunday. The goal helped Team Strømmen to a 3 - 0 victory over Klepp. It was their first win of the season following two tied games.

"That Rhian's foot is an amazing one will not be questioned, and many of other Topserrien teams will discover this during the season. The 26 year old really did show the spectators the power and accuracy of her right foot, and sent a signal to the league that they will need to practice to keep up."

The Team Strømmen Canadian right back was just one of many Team Strømmen players who performed well yesterday yesterday. They sent Klepp home with only one shot on goal. The Canadian national team player did a great job in her defensive back position, but she insists that her teammates in defense help her out and they cover each other well.

The defense did work very well and this is the reason for the excellent result. Having a defence line working the way it did yesterday, can only help this team to win a medal. The goal keeper cannot remember the last game she had virtually nothing to do. Her only stress came form her won error! Having such a strong defence and being able to score can make Team Strømmen the dark horse team for a medal that they were last year. That suits the team perfectly.

On her goal, Rhian commented that her "shot was a really good one, but that it’s not like that every time. Luckily for us, she said, on this occasion, it went in, and it was a good time in the game."

Just a couple of minutes before Rhian's scoring free kick, Team Strømmen tried out a new set play for a free kick. Unfortunately, the tactic was way too advanced and it did not work well.

Coach Janne Jansson was really pleased with all the import players on the field today. They made for an amazing trio yesterday.

Are Team Strommen good enough to go for gold?

Rhian thinks that the desire to play for gold must continue throughout the season, not just after three matches. Her teammates agree. the Stabæk team seems to be off to a good start this season, but Rhian and her teammates think they are good enough to challenge them. We have to win more games adds Lene Storløkken.

WE WERE IN FULL CONTROL 20th April 2009

On Sunday, Team Strømmen grasped their first victory of the year with a 3-0 defeat of Klepp in LSK stadium. Before this, Team Strommen had met strong resistance and they had only forced a tie against both their opening opponents Arna and Roa.

Janne Jansson, Team Strommen's coach said that they were in full control today. Against Arna he was satisfied with the game as a start, and Team Strommen was perhaps a little fortunate. Against Roa he feels that Team Strommen dominated the match and a 1-1 tie was fair. Now, against Klepp, the team has started to gel and use their patterns of play.

Jansson has taken over coaching duties this season from Hege Riise who is now an assistant coach to the World champion US team. Jansson previously coached the Club in 2005 - 2006. He comments "I am pleased to be back with the Club, especially the way we played today. We have better depth than I had the last time I was here. This is a good Club to be with."

The game against JKlepp was never very absorbing. The hosts grasped thegame from the start. They scored at 21 minutes as Una Nwajei took her first shot for the Club, on a rebound from a shot by Diana Matheson.

Then, a short time later, the host team was awarded a free kick about 20 metres out. Rhian Wilkinson launched a booming and accurate shot that curved round the wall.

A minute before play stopped, Angel put the last nail into Klepp's coffin with a good shot that beat Klepp net minder Mauve Yvonne Karlsrud.

Team Strommen captain Lean Storløkken. said that the team played well. They took their chances, scored three goals and won their first victory. It has been hard to play three major matches in one week, especially at the start of the season, but the team has improved.