Brann - Rosenborg 3-1
By Håvard Lindheim, 2 Februar 2005, 09:43
Rosenborg did not manage to defeat the red-clads, something that don't lessen the Bergen hopes for a league triumph.
In the first match of the year, the 3-2 victory against Sparta Praha, the new attack line Alexander Ødegaard, Thorstein Helstad and Daniel Braaten looked promising, and got another chance against Feyenoord in the next game. Tonight they were together again, and continued the good trend - at least from the start.
During the first minutes, Daniel Braaten was aggressive, and after 11 minutes, RBK got awarded a penalty when the hairy one got clipped down by Kristjan Örn Sigurdsson. During the whole of 2004, RBK struggled from the 11-meter mark, and the first penalty of 2005 followed the trend. Alexander Ødegaard sent the ball into the post and out.
Instead, Brann was able to take the lead when Cato Guntveit sent a pass into the goal from two metres, at the far post. RBK however had a good grip on the west-coasters before half time, and Erik Hoftun's equalizer on a blank goal, when Brann goalkeeper Håkon Opdal was nowhere to be seen, was well deserved.
In the second half, Brann took over and created many good chances. They got payed, too, with scores from Ragnvald Soma and Dylan MacAllister.
Result: Another loss for Rosenborg, who now stands with three defeats and only one win (against Maspalomas) on the last four friendlies. Will we be able to turn the tide against FC Copenhagen on Friday?
