Vålerenga - Rosenborg 1-1
By Endre Bakken, 20 April 2008, 23:42
RBK started over with a newly composed team, but for the fourth game in a row they had to chase an equalizer.
Like the last game against Fredrikstad, Rosenborg had to play more than one half with only ten players. Yssouf Koné was wrongly given a red card when he fouled Kjetil Wæhler. It was a late tackle, but far from dangerous: the RBK attacker hit the Vålerenga-defender's leg with his shin.
"The referees have gotten big decks this year, it seems. Traoré shouldn't have gotten a yellow card either, when Morten Berre just threw himself down. I'm pissed," Trond Henriksen told TV2.
After a bad start on the season he changed the team: Kris Stadsgaard was in the starting eleven for the first time, while Vadim Demidov was moved up on the midfield, where Alexander Tettey played on the left. Fredrik Stoor was the only person left in the defense where Alejandro Lago and Abdou Traoré got the chance to play, the last in Roy Miller's absence.
Before the game RBK practiced playing fast after winning the ball. In the beginning Demidov and Stadsgaard impressed with great raids, where they took the ball over the whole pitch. Demidov gave the ball to Alexander Tettey, who shot right outside of the goal. Stadsgaard's attack ended with an offside.
Vålerenga got the lead, when Mohammed Abdellaoue got away from Lago, only to get his toe on the ball. It was the very first of VIF's very few chances in the game.
The game died off after Koné got his red card, but after the half time Rosenborg began playing well. Lago immediately got a chance after a free kick, and RBK continued owning the game. The play between Skjelbred and Demidov was excellent at times- it showed that they had played together on the U21.
Despite giving it their best, RBK struggled without having traditional strikers. Roar Strand was often the only Rosenborg player in the box, while Didier Konan fell for VIF's offside trap too often.
The pressure from the away team got too great: substitute Øyvind Storflor continued a cross from Fredrik Stoor, and Konan fooled everyone and sent the ball into the goal. The night was saved!
"The boys deserve praise for their morale. It was obvious that we are a much better team than Vålerengen, even with only ten players. The boys played a splendid second half," a proud Henriksen concluded.
Match statistics
Vålerenga
1-1
ROSENBORG
Mohammed Abdellaoue 26
Didier Konan 81
Sunday 20. April 2008 20:00 Tippeliga, Ullevaal stadion, Oslo
24 302 attendants
Like the last game against Fredrikstad, Rosenborg had to play more than one half with only ten players. Yssouf Koné was wrongly given a red card when he fouled Kjetil Wæhler. It was a late tackle, but far from dangerous: the RBK attacker hit the Vålerenga-defender's leg with his shin.
