Rosenborg - Lillestrøm 4-1
By Håvard Lindheim, 9 August 2004, 11:00
Rosenborg impressed big in the second half of the first of two "league finals" in August, and it ended in a comfortable victory against LSK - who now most likely is out of the fight for the gold medal.
4-1: Seconds before home debutant Daniel Braaten sets the final score.
If Lillestrøm had taken their first victory at Lerkendal since 1982, they would have been even with RBK. Luckily, that was not to be.
Still, it was the guests from Romerike that got the better start. Five minutes old, the match saw a Johan Petter Winsnes (cousin of Fredrik) header towards the goal. But national team keeper Espen Johnsen saved impressively.
Instead, Rosenborg could take the lead a few minutes later. Roar Strand crashed into an outcoming Emille Baron, but managed to send the ball into the area, where Frode Johnsen could make an easy score. Strand unfortunately got hurt in the duel with the LSK keeper and had to be replaced by Øyvind Storflor shortly thereafter.
The remains of the first half was evenly played out, with many duels. RBK never got a hold on LSK, and just prior to the break an equalizing goal came. Espen Johnsen stood on the line when Christoffer Andersson sent a free kick from the left - 35 metres from the goal. The ball did not touch any player; instead it hit the 5-meter mark and bounced into the net - without the RBK goallie doing anything...
Luckily, a more determined Rosenborg team came out after the break.
"The lads geared themselves up before the second half. They feel the pressure in such games as well - it is, after all, not just me as coach that has a responsibility," Ola By Rise told rbkweb.com.
RBK took over completely and rolled up attack after attack. But the relieving goal didn't come.
After 80 minutes, tough, finally we saw 2-1. Mikael Dorsin, making his home field debut, took the ball from fellow Swede Andersson, and passed on to Storflor. The ball ended at Fredrik Winsnes who hammered away - into the goalpost. On the rebound, attack strategist Dorsin had found a free spot, and marked his debut with a score.
"It is nice to get to show my skills to the crowd in this way. For me, to make a goal is a great bonus. I am after all a defender and is just supposed to help assisting the goals," Mikael Dorsin smiled after the game.
After the score, Lillestrøm strode forth to hunt another equalizer. This made room for the two fast RBK wingers; Daniel Braaten had now replaced Harald Brattbakk. First Storflor: From 18 meters, Big Øyvind bent the ball in beautifully at the far goalpost.
On overtime, it was wing colleague Braaten's turn to present himself - he too a home field debutant. Another old Skeid player, Christer George, passed him through; he swinged in in front of the goal and set the final 4-1 goal.
"It is allright to get a start like this. Goals do good for forwards," Braaten stated.
End result, Rosenborg is now 6 points clear of Lillestrøm (and Vålerenga) at 3rd. Second in the league, Tromsø, won 2-1 home against Stabæk, and is still following RBK closely - one point behind. And as most know: in the next round (Saturday Aug 21st) just these two, Rosenborg and Tromsø, meets for another "league final" match.
Match Details
ROSENBORG
4-1
Lillestrøm
Frode Johnsen 11
Mikael Dorsin 80
Øyvind Storflor 88
Daniel Braaten 90
