Four minutes into extra time, a minute more than what was signalled, Magne Hoset saved the one point for FCK. Bitter, to put it mildly!

DRAW: Vidar Riseth and the other black clad ones got problems with Alvaro Santos & Co. Photo: Royal League/Per Kjærbye

After severe injury problems during the winter, Rosenborg could pick from a nearly complete squad in front of the Meeting of Masters in Denmark; only Ørjan Berg was still out.

As a result, RBK could finally start experimenting a bit with the team before the league starts: Christer Basma had returned to the right back position, and got the captain mark as Erik Hoftun (turned 36 on match day) was benched after 78 straight games and was replaced by a now-fit Bjørn Tore Kvarme.

The newly composed defender duo Kvarme and Riseth managed ok agains FCK's dangerous forwards: the Brazilian Alvaro Santos and Sibosisu Zuma.

"Vidar and Bjørn Tore played a very good match. The forwards of Køpenhavn might be the best couple in Norway," Per Joar Hansen told local Trondheim newspaper Adresseavisa after the match.

The home team grabbed hold of the initiative from the start, and Magne Hoset, who most likely was the FCK player most motivated to beat RBK, was active. First, he fired away from long rage; a good free kick that hit the bar. Then, he failed to use a bad goal kick from Espen Johnsen.

Against the flow of the game, Rosenborg took the lead before the break. RBK rolled up an attack that ended up at the left. There, Ståle Stensaas came running, and hammered the ball - in between FCK goalkeeper Balazs Raboczki and into the net. Stensaas now has four goals in the past five Royal League games, not bad for a left back!

"He has never had this supreme level in his play. He's very involved in all free kicks, and often comes up high and in range for a shot. Both on goal shots and passes he's very important to us," Rune Skarsfjord praised to Norwegian Internet daily Nettavisen.

Rosenborg did however get back down after the break: Jan Gunnar Solli lost the ball on his way forward, and FC Køpenhavn went for a counter attack. The ball ended at goalgetter Santos, who, with Kvarme close by, turned and shot the ball into the net.

"When you turn Kvarme off in one step, then you're good. It looks like we are in control, but then he does this incredible manouver," Skarsfjord said, admiringly.

Luckily, RBK struck back, and regained the lead after a corner, fifteen minutes before time: Frode Johnsen was left standing all alone in front of the goal, and headed down at left back Peter Christiansen's feet - who stood on the wrong side of the goal line. For good measure, Vidar Riseth put in the rebound as well.

The clock ticked its way towards full time, and RBK looked to be the winner, when Magne Hoset four minutes into overtime finally made the break: A long pass was headed down at the ex-Molde player's feet, and he put it in at the far post. Sure, a nice goal, but what a blow!

"It is bitter, unneccessary and unforgiveable to let them at it, so easy, in the final seconds!" Frode Johnsen stated firmly.

PS 1! The match was played with a closed roof, as the second match ever in the history of the Parken stadium.

PS 2! A frozen Ullevaal stadium saved the TV night in the Norwegian homes: VIF Oslo - IFK Göteborg was postphoned, and TVNorge sent from the Parken instead.

Match Details

FC København	2-2	ROSENBORG
Alvaro Santos 54 Magne Hoset 90		Ståle Stensaas 43 Frode Johnsen 75

Thursday, March 3rd 2005 20:35
Royal League, 2. group stage, Parken, København
6543 spectators

Rosenborg [4-3-3]
Espen Johnsen - Christer Basma, Bjørn Tore Kvarme (Erik Hoftun 65), Vidar Riseth, Ståle Stensaas - Roar Strand, Jan Gunnar Solli, Fredrik Winsnes - Alexander Ødegaard (Thorstein Helstad 46), Frode Johnsen, Daniel Braaten (Øyvind Storflor 84)

Yellow card RBK: none