"I'm very happy with the players attitude and morale, and that we were able to get back in the game despite the bad pitch," Erik Hamrén told TV2.
He gave the type of synthetic grass in Ålesund the blame for Rosenborg struggling:
"Playing in the Tippeliga on such a pitch is awful. The stadium and supporters are incredible, but the pitch is bad, you can't send a proper pass on that pitch. It sucks," the coach said.
After the two good games against the Brøndby and HamKam RBK had to make four changes to the team: Alexander Lund Hansen (shoulder), Mikael Lustig (heel), Alexander Tettey (thigh) and Roar Strand (can't handle artificial grass) were substituted by Rune Jarstein, Andreas Nordvik, Anthony Annan and Abdou Traoré.
A first half completely devoid of chances was introduced by plenty of bad passes by both midfields, but after a while RBK took over. A long shot from Marek Sapara was the closest the away team got to a goal.
Instead Aalesund got two dangerous free kicks nearing the end of the half. The first was headed above the goal, while the second ended with a penalty when Kris Stadsgaard held Tor Hogne Aarøy. Johan Arneng scored, while a Stadsgaard stayed in the wardrobe, down with the flu.
"Our passes were bad. We made plenty of free kicks on our on half, and that created opportunities for Aalesund," Trond Henriksen explained.
The players listened to the assistant coach, and didn't give the relegation candidates a single chance in the second half. Rosenborg owned the game, and led by Didier Konan the good finishes started coming.
Konan created his first chance after the break, when he got away from his defenders and shot above. Five minutes later the equalizer came: Sapara sent a free kick from the right, and the ball hit Steffen Iversen's heel. Konan caught it, and sent a direct shot past goalie Nenad Novakovic and into the net.
After that RBK should have gotten a penalty, when Daniel Arnefjord used his fist to get rid of a dangerous ball.
Luckily, Konan scored his fourth in three league games: He caught the ball at 25 meters and dribbled his way past three AaFK players before he scored with the outside of his foot. Magnifique!
Aalesund were lacking in everything, and never made an attempt to equalize. Since Lyn lost 0-2 in Bergen, RBK are now in the fifth place- one point behind Bodø/Glimt and four behind Tromsø and Fredrikstad on third and second place.
"Winning was important to stay in the race for medals. Now we still have the chance," Erik Hamrén concluded.
Match statistics
Aalesund
1-2
ROSENBORG
Johan Arneng pen. 45
Didier Konan 53, 70
Sundag 28. September 2008 20:45 Tippeliga, Color Line stadion, Ålesund
10 528 attendants
Rosenborg [4-4-2] Rune Jarstein - Andreas Nordvik, Kris Stadsgaard (Alejandro Lago 46), Vadim Demidov, Mikael Dorsin - Per Ciljan Skjelbred, Marek Sapara (Besart Berisha 90), Anthony Annan, Abdou Traoré (Øyvind Storflor 63) - Steffen Iversen, Didier Konan
Yellow cards RBK: Abdou Traoré, Didier Konan and Andreas Nordvik
