Fram see off Stjarnan to lift Icelandic Cup

Fram Reykjavík have ended their 24-year wait for an Icelandic Cup triumph by beating Stjarnan 3-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra time.

Fram's eighth cup triumph was undoubtedly made sweeter by the manner of the victory. Halldór Orri Björnsson's fifth-minute spot-kick and a Veigar Páll Gunnarsson strike had left Fram 2-0 down at half-time. However, a spirited second-half surge saw Hólmbert Aron Fridjónsson halve the defecit inside seven minutes and Almarr Ormarsson grab a 64th-minute equaliser.

The pendulum swung back Stjarnan's way seven minutes later, as Björnsson scored what appeared the decisive goal, but with just four minutes left, Ormarsson completed his own double to tie the score at 3-3 and take the game into extra time. Neither side could seize the initiative, though, and it was Fram who had luck on their side in the shoot-out as their captain and goalkeeper Ögmundur Kristinsson saved two Stjarnan penalties.

"You could not ask for more drama and joy than this," said Fram coach Ríkhardur Dadason. "The emotion swings for the fans were incredible - and it is certainly not a experience a coach would want to relive every week. It is the quickest way to a title for a club which does not have a realistic shot at winning the league.

"We did not start well, but at half-time we discussed the importance of faith in our style and getting an early goal," added former Fram striker Dadason, who took charge in May following a league defeat against Stjarnan. "It happened and we were back in the game. Luckily we had our seven penalty takers on the pitch. We had the fortune and talent to win the shoot-out."

Goalkeeper Kristinsson added: "Of course you study opponents' penalties, but then just take a chance. When you come into a cup final the chances are 50-50 and league positions do not matter. We did not play well in the first half and deserved to be down at half-time but then we talked about coming out all guns blazing in the second half."