"First goal wins"
By Håvard Lindheim, 24 August 2004, 09:28
Rosenborg thinks that the team will have to score during the away leg against Maccabi Haifa in order to qualify for the Champions League.
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"I think it will be crucial to score a goal," Ola By Rise says to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Colleague coach Rune Skarsfjord is even clearer:
"Whoever scores first, wins the game," 'Skars' thinks.
The assistant coach was present when Maccabi Haifa played 1-1 against Beitar Jerusalem in the league opening at Saturday. Maccabi's greatest star, the Croat Giovani Rosso, made 1-0 on a free kick, before the away team made an equaliser. Hence, Maccabi did not get quite the final test they wanted.
"This is quite clearly positive for us. The Maccabi players did not leave the field with a good feeling, like the Rosenborg players did after the Tromsø match", Rune Skarsfjord tells Norwegian daily VG.
"Never change a winning team", they say, and most likely Rosenborg will use the same starting 11 as in most of the August games. Robbie Russel, however, got stamped on his wrist during Thursday's training, and it is uncertain wether he can be a reserve.
Maccabi Haifa - Rosenborg is to be played at the National arena Ramat-Gan in Tel-Aviv. Kickoff is at 21:15 local time - 20:15 Norwegian time (CEST). Norwegian broadcaster TV3 shows the match.
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