It was a good mood for the Faroese players when Mehmet Türkmen from Turkey scored for the last time in the U-21 national match in Klaksvík. The Faroe Islands won 2-1 against Estonia, who took the lead six minutes after the break. The goal came after a mistake in the Faroese play back right.
The Faroese team stood up. As the second half progressed, pressure was placed on the opponent’s goal, and when Jóhan Josephsen had equalized, the Faroe Islands put a lot of effort into trying to score the winning goal, and it succeeded when captain Áki D. Samuelsen put the ball into the goal from a free kick. Then the regular season was over and angry it was.
-This is a good feeling, because most of the players have no experience in U-21 national football. So it was primarily about getting the defense to sit, and it worked better. We were on top in the first minutes after the break, and that’s why it was bad when they scored, says new coach Ólavur Mikkelsen.
Despite the wet weather, the Faroese team was not taken off its feet.
-Jóhan Josephsen equalized, and so we thought we had a chance to win, and it worked. Aron Benjaminsen was substituted with one minute remaining. He proved to be well-liked, and he curled loose on the right and won the free kick, which captain Áki D. Samuelsen converted into a 2-1 victory. It was a good feeling, says Ólavur Mikkelsen.
Áki D. Samuelsen is very satisfied with the team:
-It feels like a big applause to be chosen to be captain, and I tried to be an example in attitude and play. When the referee called for a free kick, I knew immediately where the ball should be placed, and it was good that I managed to score and win.
This was Áki D. Samuelsen’s 15th U-21 national game, and this was the first time he was a goalscorer.
Before this season, Áki D. Samuelsen moved from HB to Norwegian Ranheim Fotball, where he has performed so well that he was recently voted the best wing in May.
Are you ready if Eyðun Klakstein sends you an invitation to be on the Icelandic national team?
-First of all, I am happy with my teammates and the Faroese about this victory and about being able to play on the U-21 national team. The dream of all football players is to get the opportunity to play on the Icelandic national team, and if the national team coach sends an invitation for me, it will of course be a dream that comes true, says Áki D. Samuelsen.
