Fylkir advanced to the semi-finals of the Cup after a dramatic 4-2 extra-time victory over Grotta in a quarter-final that was decided by a flurry of late goals. The match was locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, with both regulation goals occurring in the final minute of each half. The Lemeister model had projected a 3-1 home win and gave Fylkir a 45 per cent chance of victory, a forecast that proved accurate in terms of the winner but required an additional 30 minutes to be realised.
Grotta took the lead through T. Ingolfsson on the stroke of half-time, scoring a normal goal in the 45th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage at the break. Fylkir pressed for an equaliser throughout the second half but were unable to find a way through until the 89th minute, when Grotta's C. McLagan inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, levelling the contest at 1-1 and forcing extra time. The own goal was a significant shift in momentum, as Fylkir had been chasing the game for the entire second period.
Extra time was a remarkable affair, with four goals scored between the 101st and 118th minutes. Fylkir took the lead for the first time in the 101st minute through A. Gudbjornsson, a normal goal that put the home side 2-1 ahead. Grotta responded swiftly, with C. McLagan scoring a normal goal for his side in the 107th minute to make it 2-2, atoning for his earlier own goal. However, Fylkir regained the advantage almost immediately, as O. Stefansson scored in the 112th minute to make it 3-2. The home side put the result beyond doubt in the 118th minute when K. Sigfusson added a fourth, sealing a 4-2 victory.
The match was characterised by a high number of bookings, with nine yellow cards issued in total. Fylkir received four, with O. Stefansson, A. Gudbjornsson and G. Tyrfingsson all cautioned, alongside an unnamed player. Grotta collected five yellows, including T. Ingolfsson, B. Andresson, C. McLagan and A. Sigurdarson, with another booking for an unnamed player. The disciplined breakdown suggests a fiercely contested tie, with Grotta's more aggressive approach ultimately proving costly as they conceded three goals in the final 18 minutes of the match, including extra time.
Both sides made six substitutions each, indicating a physically demanding contest that required deep squad rotation. The absence of detailed statistics such as possession, shots, expected goals and passing means the analysis must rely heavily on the goal timeline and card count. The pattern of play saw Fylkir create the more decisive moments when it mattered most, particularly in extra time, while Grotta will rue their inability to protect their lead late in regular time and their failure to withstand Fylkir's pressure in the additional period.
The victory sends Fylkir into the semi-finals of the Cup, a significant achievement given the competitive nature of the knockout format. Grotta, who led for much of the match, will be left to reflect on a missed opportunity as they exit at the quarter-final stage. Fylkir's resilience in extra time, scoring three unanswered goals after the 100th minute, demonstrated a strong mental fortitude that will serve them well in the latter stages of the competition. The Lemeister model's projection of a home win was vindicated, albeit in a far more dramatic fashion than the 3-1 prediction suggested.
