Eight-Goal Frenzy: Valur and FH Hafnarfjordur Trade Blows in Icelandic Classic That Keeps Title Race Alive
A wind-whipped Reykjavik evening became the stage for one of the Úrvalsdeild’s most breathless spectacles on Sunday, as Valur and FH Hafnarfjordur played out a 4-4 thriller at N1-völlurinn Hlíðarenda. In a match that lurched between chaos and masterclass, both sides wrestled for control before ultimately splitting the points—leaving Valur clinging to their hopes in the title chase and FH ruing what might have been.
For the 2,000 or so spectators braving the chill, the opening quarter-hour delivered a warning: buckle up. S. Hallsson, FH’s talismanic forward, set the tone with an early brace, dragging Valur’s defense through the wringer. His first came after just six minutes, a poised finish at the end of a sweeping break that silenced the home crowd. Hallsson doubled his tally in the 15th, latching onto a flicked header before stroking the ball into the corner with forensic precision.
It looked for a moment like FH, coming off a sputtering run with just one win in five, might run riot. Valur, though battered by recent inconsistency of their own, showed why they remain second in the league. The hosts clawed back momentum in the 23rd minute, narrowing the deficit with a thunderous finish after a period of sustained pressure. The goal electrified the stands and infused Valur with purpose.
Moments before halftime, the contest swung dramatically. A slick passing move saw Valur earning a penalty in the 40th minute, calmly dispatched to draw level. FH, suddenly nervy, were punished again seconds before the whistle, with Valur snatching a 3-2 lead off a darting run and precise finish—capping a reversal that left the visiting dugout shell-shocked.
Trailing at the break, FH emerged determined. The visitors pressed higher and their reward came at the hour mark. Í. Ólafsson found just enough space on the edge of the box, curling a measured shot past Valur’s keeper to bring the sides back on terms, 3-3. With both teams now playing with abandon, transitions sharpened and tackles toughened, the match balanced on a razor’s edge.
As the clock ticked into the final minutes, a new eruption. Valur, desperate to keep pace in a title race that has grown increasingly congested, edged in front yet again in the 85th. The goal—born of a lightning counter and some frazzled FH defending—appeared the possible winner. But on a night that defied scripting, Hallsson’s hat trick, his third in the 86th minute, rescued a draw in breathtaking fashion. It was a striker’s goal, pure and instinctive, capping a performance that will echo in Hafnarfjordur memories for years.
The drama was relentless, the intensity unmistakable. There were no red cards, yet tempers simmered and the referee’s whistle seemed to barely keep pace with a match in constant motion. Both technical areas danced between hope and despair, and when the final whistle sounded, players from both sides slumped to the turf—exhausted, perhaps aggrieved, but surely satisfied to have delivered a modern Icelandic classic.
For Valur, today’s draw is both a respite and a missed opportunity. They remain in second place on 40 points from 22 matches, their league ambitions still intact but hampered by defensive lapses that nearly turned three points into none. Their recent form—a single win in five—tells of a team seeking answers, yet their resilience tonight offers a glimmer of optimism as the season approaches its climax.
On the other side, FH hafnarfjordur can take heart from a display of attacking bravado seldom seen in their campaign. Hallsson’s hat trick not only padded his scoring resume but provided a jolt to a club striving to climb from fifth and re-establish themselves among Iceland’s elite. The visitors now sit on 30 points, locked firmly in the scramble for European qualification. Their recent run—just one win, but four draws in five—suggests a team hard to beat if not always able to close the deal.
History, too, played its part. Just three months previous, Valur bested FH in a 3-1 contest on this same turf. This time, FH’s fightback demonstrated growth and grit, even as the search for a decisive win continues.
With only a handful of matches remaining, every point is precious. Valur must tighten their defense and capitalize on their attacking wealth if they are to push for the title. For FH, the road to European football remains open, though only if Hallsson and company can convert these wild swings into steadier results.
As night fell over N1-völlurinn, neither side emerged fully satisfied—yet both departed with something to build upon. In a season defined by uncertainty, Sunday’s encounter delivered clarity on one front: the race is far from over, and Icelandic football can still thrill even the coldest autumn.