"More entertainment than this is hard to get, right? At times it was pure circus!", Per Joar Hansen smiled after his first match as main coach for Rosenborg.
In March, RBK beat Djurgården a whooping 5-0 in the Abra hall, and from the start of this game it looked like a copy. Rosenborg virtually toyed with the guests, and made several good chances before Harald Brattbakk put in 1-0 after 14 minutes played. The goal came when Brattbakk (centre forward for this match) headed a pass from Mikael Dorsin (right back for this match) between the legs (!) of ex-Vålerenga keeper Pa Dembo Tourray.
2-0 came minutes later, and yet another time the goalgetter was at the right place when it mattered. This time, a crosser from Ståle Stensaas was headed into the cross of the goal. Not often you see that, two headed goals signed Brattbakk!
But after this, Rosenborg fell back to old sins from this autumn - to let the opponent get into the game during the last 15 minutes before the break. This time, it ended with two goals to Djurgården. First, a totally unmarked Tobias Hysén could roll in 2-1. Three minutes later, defender Elias Storm made balance when Espen Johnsen failed to clear the rather weak header, after a corner.
RBK faced second half with renewed spirits, and continued creating chances. But we saw no goals until Thorstein Helstad replaced Frode Johnsen. Helstad sent RBK in the lead after using a nice pass from Fredrik Winsnes: Finted past two Swedish defenders, and put in the 3-2 goal, alone with the keeper.
A sparsely crowded Lerkendal sighed with relief - but ten minutes later, it was all turned around. During 65 seconds, Djurgården had changed things. First, Espen Johnsen again showed bad judgement on a corner, and again, Storm headed the ball in the net. Shortly thereafter Patrick Amoah got a great opportunity from 20 metres and shot the guests into the lead.
Luckily, Rosenborg quickly came to their wits, and continued creating dangerous situation. The home team saw opportunities for both 1 and 3 points, and everyone believed in balance when RBK was awarded a penalty fifteen minutes before time. But Brattbakk hit the post, and even tough Storflor hit the rebound, that one met the post as well. Should RBK fail to equalise?
But then this Helstad. In extra time, finally, the equaliser came. Keeper Tourray had to give a rebound on a Brattbakk shot. The ball ended up at Helstad, who tried to fly-kick it into the net with his right foot. He failed, totally - but while up in the air, the ball actually hit the left foot and bounced into the net.
"I can't believe that I missed the first attempt! But the ball went home. Luck," Helstad admitted after the game.
The official statistics said. 33-14 in chances, 15-8 in shots on goal and 57-43 possession to Rosenborg.
PS! RBK had to do without five injured players: Ørjan Berg, Vidar Riseth, Roar Strand, Christer Basma and Robbie Russell.
Match Details
ROSENBORG
4-4
Djurgården
Harald Brattbakk 14, 17
Thorstein Helstad 61, 90
Tobias Hysén 39
Elias Storm 42, 71
Patrick Amoah 72
Thursday Nov 11th 2004 20:30 Royal League, 1st group stage, Lerkendal stadium
7925 spectators
Rosenborg [4-2-3-1] Espen Johnsen - Mikael Dorsin, Torjus Hansén, Erik Hoftun, Ståle Stensaas - Jan Gunnar Solli (Christer George 84), Fredrik Winsnes - Daniel Braaten, Frode Johnsen (Thorstein Helstad 52), Øyvind Storflor - Harald Brattbakk
