FAILED: Harald Brattbakk failed to score against his old team mates. Unfortunately, the other RBK players weren't much better in front of the net.
Photo: Royal League/Gorm Kallestad
For FC København, tonight's game was "Win or be out" - and unfortunately, Magne Hoset & Co. could cheer after the game. Now, group 1 is wide open, and a finalist will only appear after the last match between Malmø FF and RBK on 12 May.
Rosenborg started offensively, and created buckets of chances throughout the match. But merely a few of them hit the goal, and when the ball moved towards the net, FCK goalkeeper Balázs Rabóczk was always there with a save.
RBK was the leading team through and through, but against the flow of the game, FC Køpenhavn took the lead on their very first chance after half an hour. From 18 metres, today's captain Hjalte Nørregaard could shoot, undisturbed; a low ball that snuck in by the post.
This was the fourth game in a row that the opponent scored the first goal, and yet again after half an hour. Hence, RBK had to start chasing an equalizer again.
As the second half went by, the Danish guests awoke, and the match became more even. But as opposed to RBK, FCK didn't manage to create any good chances; the super-forward-duo Alvaro Santos and Sibusiso Zuma effectively got tamed by the Rosenborg defence. Especially Miika Koppinen stood out, and had Alvaro controlled for the evening.
But RBK never scored, and hence it was a defeat against the white-clads of Copenhagen.
Rosenborg still leads group 1 on a better goal difference than FCK. The match between the Danes and Malmø FF in two weeks will be crucial. With a home win in the Parken, RBK will have to win, most likely with several goals, on away grounds against MFF.
PS! Bjørn Tore Kvarme got an inguinal stretch early on, and will be out for four to six weeks.
Match Details
ROSENBORG
0-1
FC København
Hjalte Nørregaard 31
Thursday 14 April 2005 20:35 Royal League, 2. group stage, Lerkendal stadium
Attendance: 7390
Rosenborg [4-3-3] Espen Johnsen - Miika Koppinen, Bjørn Tore Kvarme (Christer Basma 7), Vidar Riseth, Ståle Stensaas - Roar Strand (Ørjan Berg 53), Jan Gunnar Solli, Fredrik Winsnes - Daniel Braaten (Thorstein Helstad 64), Frode Johnsen, Harald Brattbakk
