Ståle Stensaas has stood forth as Rosenborg's great goalgetter in Royal League. In a winter cold Stockholm, the left back struck again.

GUTS: Strand and RBK qualified for the second group stages of the Scandinavian winter league. Photo: Royal League/Björn Tilly

During the past few months, RBK has had severe injury problems. Now, the diseases have taken the lead: Bjørn Tore Kvarme, Christer Basma and Thorstein Helstad all had to pass this important Royal League match due to flue.

On a frozen Råsunda grass pitch, RBK strode forth carefully, with "Drillo"-inspired football: many long balls up to Frode Johnsen.

"We knew it was bound to be a tough match on a bad pitch. Hence, we decided to go for long passes in the start, and push Djurgården somewhat back. It wasn't set for a pretty game, but as the match passed, we noticed that it was indeed possible to play some as well. I feel we managed that," Ståle Stensaas said to broadcaster Canal Digital.

As the left back said, RBK had to wait for it. Defensive safety had a high priority after having let in too many goals during the winter's friendlies, and the defensive work made the attack suffer; Rosenborg barely created a chance during the first half. The home team, on their hand, were equally void of dangerous attacks, and thus the game was even.

After the break things luckily improved, especially the last half an hour with an offensive left wing substitute Øyvind Storflor. But RBK needed a kick in the behind, in shape of a goal at Ullevaal, to step up the pace. After 65 minutes, Esbjerg took the lead over Vålerenga, and hence RBK had to stand up and score to ensure further play in the Royal League.

It didn't take long before the scoring came: Erik Hoftun made a long pass that ended at Frode Johnsen. He sent out to Storflor, who finted his man off before passing back in. There, the always offensive Ståle Stensaas came in top speed after a long run.

"It was a relatively easy score, but the ball could easily have bounced bad and gone over my foot. It was great to see the ball go in," the match winner smiled after the game.

As the evening's football neared its end, VIF scored as well, and with 1-1 against Esbjerg it was definitely no doubt that RBK was to proceed to the second group stage. Next Thursday, Royal League continues for Rosenborg - whose shape now seems to be on the rise.

Match Details

Djurgården	0-1	ROSENBORG
		Ståle Stensaas 70

Thurday Feb 24th 2005 20:35
Royal League, 1st group stage, Råsunda stadium, Stockholm
3020 spectators

Rosenborg [4-3-3]
Espen Johnsen - Mikael Dorsin, Vidar Riseth, Erik Hoftun, Ståle Stensaas - Roar Strand (Per Ciljan Skjelbred 61), Jan Gunnar Solli, Fredrik Winsnes - Alexander Ødegaard (Øyvind Storflor 61), Frode Johnsen, Daniel Braaten (Harald Brattbakk 87)

Yellow card RBK: Erik Hoftun, Mikael Dorsin