RBK had few problems to overcome the Swedish masters, and took a well deserved home win.

A START WITH A PUNCH: With an acrobatic volley, Superman Strand sent RBK in the lead after a mere three minutes. Joseph Elanga could do nothing but watch. Photo: Royal League/Scanpix

Wednesday, it was a hint of spring in Trondheim, with five degrees plus. With the spring, Rosenborg's good gameplay also came. The Trolls, who so far this winter have looked somewhat frozen, served a dish of party football when Malmö came visiting.

"I think we play a great match tonight. Defensively we hold a really high class, and the offensive part is good as well," Rune Skarsfjord told rbweb.com.

After three small inutes, the co-coach could see his team take the lead: Frode Johnsen sent a Fredrik Winsnes pass down to Roar Strand, who came running through the Swedish defense. With an acrobatic half volley manoeuvre he lobbed the ball over Bjørn Tore Kvarme's old team mate from Real Sociedad, goalkeeper Mattias Asper.

And then it was time for a Daniel Braaten show. The hairy Oslo lad literarily played with the Swedes for parts of the first half, and in just a few minutes' time he had two good distance shots and a raid that Maradona could have problems copying: He started by rounding his watchman Elanga almost at the center line, by the sideline; sped up, passed four more Swedes before he sent the ball straight to the goalkeeper.

RBK continued to create good chances throughout the first half, but none of them really dangerous. Malmö, on their hand, had only one, but it was a big one: Daniel Andersson, small brother of Patrick, hit the bar with a distance shot. In the start of the second half, too, the guests from Sweden had their moments.

"I guess they got yelled at during the break, and then they came back and worked their asses off. But the offensive did only last for a quarter of an hour; after that, we came back," Skarsfjord said.

Yet again, Braaten took hold of the game. But this time, the Malmö-defenders were prepared, and took Braaten hard each time he got the ball. Amazingly, referee Klaus Bo Larsen allowed numerous foults to be commited.

"It is a pity for Daniel that the referee let them play like this. Daniel should have had two penalties and two clear free kicks," Rune Skarsfjord stated.

Towards the end of the game, Alexander Ødegaard came in, and he got the honour of setting the final result. Yet again, the superb left side of RBK were the architects. This time, Ståle Stensaas made the pass, and Frode Johnsen headed the ball down to Ødegaard. The player used his left foot to do a tunnel on keeper Asper, ran past and set the ball in with his right foot - great work!

With three (expected) points home, RBK have set course for the Royal League final. The next match is at home against FC Køpenhavn - but before that, the league starts! :-)

PS! The few minutes Miika Koppinen got towards the end was his RBK debut. Congratulations!

Match Details

ROSENBORG	2-0	Malmö FF
Roar Strand 3 Alexander Ødegaard 89

Thursday, March 10th 2005 20:35
Royal League, 2. group stage, Lerkendal stadium
5104 spectators

Rosenborg [4-3-3]
Espen Johnsen - Christer Basma, Bjørn Tore Kvarme, Vidar Riseth, Ståle Stensaas - Roar Strand (Per Ciljan Skjelbred 84), Jan Gunnar Solli, Fredrik Winsnes - Daniel Braaten (Mika Koppinen 90), Frode Johnsen, Øyvind Storflor (Alexander Ødegaard 78)

Yellow card RBK: Christer Basma