Sheriff - RBK 0-2: Wild West in the east
By Håvard Lindheim, 6 August 2004, 10:10
A packed charter plane Tuesday took off from Trondheim Airport Værnes bound for Moldova, the splinter republic Transdnistria and a duel against FC Sheriff at sunset. Here are the pictures!
Players waiting for passport control at Værnes.
Riseth, Russell and the others enter the LN-BRH Håkon den Gode, flight BU1175, non-stop to Chisinau Aeroport.
Well-filled and satisfied after a serving of salmon.
Finally, Moldovian earth beneath the wings!
...and beneath the feet.
The "gate" of Chisinau - capital of Moldova.
Kristina the guide worked hard.
Rush hour in Moldova.
After having checked in, the press conference was on the menu.
Only two representants of the Moldovan press attended (far left).
And then, time for training, at Stadionul Republican - home ground of Zimbru Chisinau.
Mikael Dorsin leads on.
Brattbakk and Hoftun warms up.
Micke tries to trick Perry and Solli.
Christer George chips a penalty past Espen Johnsen.
Match day:
Prior to the game we were showed the impressive "Sportcomplex Sheriff". One side of this structure held a hotel for the Sheriff players...
...while the larger parts of the building housed this impressive indoor hall. 3300 seats - completed this year.
Next to the Sportcomplex was build a football academy able to house 160 students.
And the sight-seeing continued: The small arena to the left, the grand arena in the middle, and a 5-star hotel under construction to the right.
The small arena was, as the main one, finished in 2002. It can take 8000 spectators.
The stadium has a 3rd generation artifical grass layer, and UEFA has just approved it for use in the E-cups - if needed.
A visit to the supporter store before entering the main field:
Bolshaya Sportivnaya Arena can take 13 000 spectators.
The Champions League hymn sounded great from the speaker system!
A closer look at the RBK team.
Hands up! - The Sheriff Gang about to get the big drum out.
Basma was back. (Accidental pun!)
Here, searching for alternatives for a pass.
Sheriff's offensive midfielder from Panama, Blanco, couldn't stop Winsnes.
Espen with a tiger jump at 0-0.
Riseth down for a count.
Just after, Ørjan made 1-0. The celebration happened outside the reach of the camera zoom ;-)
As a result - the 3rd qualifying round was within reach.
And when keeper Hutan sees that a free kick from Brattbakk has entered the net, RBK are in reality through.
The players were happy - to put it mildly.
As was the delegation from the hardcore supporters.
...four goals to score for the sheriffs... :-)
During the break, supporter club vice-chief Terning had to write autographs for his groupies in Tiraspol.
Brattbakk free kick after the rest.
Solli was right wing for the time being. Here at the wrong side, with the highest honoured sheriff, captain Vazha Tarkhnishvili, close by.
The Swiss referee has blown his whistle, and satisfied Rosenborgians can leave the field.
The Swede and the northlander gets interviewed by Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
"Ola, Ola, Ola!"
...and By Rise thanks for the cheers.
Authoritative policemen sees to it that noone gets too close to the winners.
