Lūkass Vapne and his side Sogndal finally ended their six-match winless run in Norway’s second tier, claiming a 3-1 away victory over Raufoss. The 22-year-old Latvian midfielder provided an assist for the team’s third goal, capping off a strong performance.
It was Vapne’s third consecutive league start, and he once again played an important role in Sogndal’s midfield. The team had struggled since late August, going six matches without a win – including three defeats. This time, however, they took control early, with Swedish forward Oliver Hintsa putting Sogndal ahead in the 19th minute.
Raufoss, themselves on a six-match losing streak, equalized in the 40th minute, but Sogndal quickly restored their lead before halftime, as Hintsa struck again to make it 2-1.
In the second half, Vapne made his mark with a smart assist on Sogndal’s insurance goal, finished off by Norwegian striker Sebastian Pedersen. That was Vapne’s fifth assist of the season to go with his four goals in 27 league appearances – a solid contribution for the Latvian international.
Thanks to this win, Sogndal still have hopes of reaching the top six, which would secure a place in the promotion play-offs for Norway’s top division next season. With three rounds remaining, Sogndal sit four points behind sixth place. Their next test comes on Saturday, when they host fifth-placed Egersunds, who currently hold a five-point advantage.
