In almost a year Harald Brattbakk waited for his 160th league goal. In injury time against Odd Grenland the Rosenborg striker finally could celebrate.

KING OF GOALS: Congratulations, Harald Martin! Illustration: Kjetil Strand

In June/July 2004 the goal machine first equaled Odd Iversen's 158 goals away at Lyn Oslo, and then in the next match away at Brann Bergen equaled record holder Petter Belsvik's 159. But then everything went wrong. Brattbakk suddenly stopped scoring goals, and new players like Daniel Braaten, Thorstein Helstad and Alexander Ødegaard were prefered by the coaches.

"I have not played that much the last months, and therefore I have been realistic in terms of scoring the record goal," Harald Brattbakk tells Canal+.

But against Odd Grenland goal number 160 came at last. The 34-year-old replaced Øyvind Storflor in the 85th minute, and when the match went into added time, Brattbakk was played through. Odd goalkeeper Erik Holtan had to use illigal methods to stop him.

"I chipped the ball past Erik, who stepped on my foot. It was a clear foul," Brattbakk says.

The veteran striker knew he now had a golden opertunity to score his 160th premier division goal, and chosed to take the penalty kick himself.

"There is a golden rule in football telling that the player who is fouled shouldn't take the penalty himself, and Thorstein (Helstad) proved this when he missed in the 1st half. But I didn't feel I had anything to lose. We led 4-0, and I had not been deducted any goals if I had missed," he says.

"Brattigol" did nothing wrong and made a decent shot to the left for the goalkeeper, who went to the right.

"The shot was not perfect, but Holtan went for the other side," Harald Brattbakk conclude.

Now he finally is crowned the king of goals in Norwegian football.

"I have waited long. There have been lots of matches and missed goal attempts, but at last the goal came," the over-all topscorer ends.

PS! 10 of Brattbakk's goals were scored at loan to Bodø/Glimt in 1993.