Ham-Kam coach Ståle Solbakken wanted revenge for the 0-5 loss at Lerkendal during summer, and at the same time, help stopping Rosenborg from winning yet another gold. Unfortunately, he and the team succeeded.

While RBK had to face their third loss in four games, Vålerenga turned 0-2 to 4-2 away against Odd Grenland, and so they crept very close to RBK: now, they are a mere one point behind, three rounds from the end.

"It doesn't help to have lots of National team players, and big names, when we don't put up a better show than this. The Ham-Kam players did sacrifices, and bled for their shirt; we didn't. This type of gameplay isn't good enough to become champions," a disappointed Ola By Rise said to broadcaster Canal+.

"I am very disappointed that we loose so many duels. We know that we meet a team playing 4-4-2 and hit long passes at Geir Frigård and Espen Olsen. Still, we don't manage to counter it ... In all, the performance as a team was way too poor," the RBK boss stated.

Many changes in the team
Rosenborg did several planned and unplanned changes to the team prior to and during their first top league game at Hamar for nine years. Ørjan Berg was still not rid of his knee injury, while Christer Basma had a setback to his heel problem and was substituted with Robbie Russell. In addition, Roar Strand and Vidar Riseth both left the field with injuries during the match. Ola By Rise also chose to let Harald Brattbakk and Mikael Dorsin stay at the bench. They were replaced by Ståle Stensaas and Thorstein Helstad. For Helstad, this then became a special occation: First time he started an RBK match, and his first game against his old club Ham-Kam.

RBK could easily have taken the lead in the first minute. Helstad made a pass in front of the goal, where he found Frode Johnsen. But his heading from point blank was too loose, and landed on the net roof. RBK, and especially Øyvind Storflor, continued having the better grip, even tough Roar Strand had to be replaced after fifteen minutes. Strand-substitute Christer George was fresh and sharp, and had good passes and shots.

Ham-Kam dominates
The last fifteen minutes before half time, the home team took full control and created several big chances. A minute before the break, they got payed. Ham-Kam played their way through with single touches before the earlier Danish international and Panathinaikos player Jan Michaelsen hammered the ball in from the edge of the 16 metres area.

"I did not like the tendencies in the end of the half, and it was thypical that we allowed to concede a goal before the break," By Rise said.

More even, to no avail
Vidar Riseth, hindered by his achilles, had to give in during the break, and was substituted by Torjus Hansén - who just got rid of an inguinal problem he has had since May. The second half was more even, but Rosenborg struggled to create anything. Ham-Kam, on their hand, were more dangerous. Petter Vaagan Moen headed the ball into the goal post, and Nigerian U-21 international OIuwasegun Abiodun created problems for the RBK defence.

As the game went by, RBK naturally tried hard to reduce. But unfortunately, an away goal never came. Daniel Braaten was closest after 77 minutes when he headed a Fredrik Winsnes corner into the near post.

Instead, Ham-Kam could make the result prettier three minutes before the end. Defender Joachim Sørum played wall with Abiodun after a corner, before managing to put the ball behind Espen Johnsen.

So that was it, another league loss for Rosenborg, who really need to get their stuff together before the home match against Stabæk in two weeks.

Match Details

Hamarkameratene	2-0	ROSENBORG
Jan Michaelsen 45 Joachim Sørum 87

Sunday Oct 3rd 2004 18:00
Tippeliga, Briskeby grass field, Hamar
7418 spectators

Rosenborg [4-3-3]
Espen Johnsen - Robbie Russell, Vidar Riseth (Torjus Hansén 46), Erik Hoftun, Ståle Stensaas - Roar Strand (Christer George 15), Jan Gunnar Solli, Fredrik Winsnes - Thorstein Helstad (Daniel Braaten 71), Frode Johnsen, Øyvind Storflor

Yellow card RBK: Christer George