Rosenborg - Maccabi Haifa 2-1
By Håvard Lindheim, 16 August 2004, 09:31
Rosenborg and Harald Brattbakk shocked Maccabi after 37 seconds, and after 9 minutes it was 2-0. But the Israelians fought their way back into the game, and at the end they managed a fair result before the match in Israel.
[Yes, this translated version comes late. Sorry!]
OPENING WITH A PUNCH: Maccabi Haifa keeper Nir Davidovitch is outplayed, and Harald Brattbakk can score after 37 seconds!
Photo: Åsmund Sjøberg
Goalgetter Brattbakk had no recorded scores at home ground this year (if we ignore the "away game" against Strindheim at Lerkendal), but after 36 small seconds he entered the goalscoring list against Maccabi Haifa. Vidar Riseth struck a long pass, and Brattbakk easily ran through a passive Israelian safety wall before rounding keeper Nir Davidovitch and putting the ball in the net.
Should have been 3-0 Two minutes later, Frode Johnsen should have increased the score to 2-0, but totally free in front of the goal he heads outside. It was nevertheless to be another goal, after nine minutes of play: Another Telemarking, Jan Gunnar Solli, got the honour of finishing a beautiful RBK attack where Ørjan Berg passed to goalscorer Brattbakk, who sent the ball in low before the goal where a watchful Solli waited.
"A fantastic start! We outplay them completely, and get two scores," third coach Rune Skarsfjord states to rbkweb.com.
2-0 CHEER: Frode Johnsen and Roar Strand congratulates goalscorer Jan Gunnar Solli.
Photo: Åsmund Sjøberg
At this stage of the match, both teams and nearly 19 000 spectators believed to a big win for the home team. But that was not to be. Shocked Maccabi Haifa players managed to fight their way back into the game.
To a standstill "We start moving lots of players up, and start playing a game of short passes. This is something Maccabi are very good at defending against. As a result, our gameplay moved to a standstill," Ola By Rise said at the press conference after the game.
And two minutes on extra time in the first half, Rosenborg got punished. Maccabis greatest star, the Croat winger Giovani Rosso, hammered a pass into the net.
Nulled out "It was hard to get such a blow in the face seconds before we went to the dressing room. But we nulled out during the break; grabbed hold of the positive aspects and shook off the disappointment," By Rise told.
The "restart" payed off. Alert Rosenborg players more or less outplayed the greenclad guests in the second half, and created several big chances. Closest to 3-1 was Brattbakk with a double chance after an hour. First, a sitting keeper Davidovitch saved, and the rebound ended up in the goal post.
"Maccabi's keeper saved them today. He had lots of feverish saves, what we call 'Espen Johnsen-saves'," Rune Skarsfjord stated.
The last minutes of the game, Maccabi Haifa were stronger, but luckily the Israelians couldn't get the equalisation.
And so, Rosenborg has a fair result prior to the away leg in Tel-Aviv at Tue Aug 24th. Finger crossed!
Match Details
ROSENBORG
2-1
Maccabi Haifa
Harald Brattbakk 1
Jan Gunnar Solli 9
Giovani Rosso 45
Wednesday Aug 11th 2004 20:45 Champions League, 3. qualifying round, Lerkendal stadium
18 482 spectators
Rosenborg [4-3-3] Espen Johnsen - Christer Basma, Vidar Riseth, Erik Hoftun, Mikael Dorsin - Roar Strand (Øyvind Storflor 69), Ørjan Berg, Fredrik Winsnes - Jan Gunnar Solli (Christer George 88), Frode Johnsen, Harald Brattbakk (Daniel Braaten 80)
