Marek Sapara was fouled throughout the whole game, but AaFK's players were unable to prevent him from scoring the winning goal, thereby securing the victory and a possible spot in next year's Intertoto cup.
THE LAST WORD: Sapara got his revenge by scoring the winning 2-1-goal.
Photo: Thomas Karlsen
"They had probably been instructed to "get him", but luckily he survived," coach Trond Henriksen told TV2.
Sapara was fouled brutally - and way too late - from beginning to end. Especially Trond Fredriksen was keen on "getting" the Slovakian national team player, something which eventually earned him two yellow cards - a thoughtless tackle of Yssouf Kone was the his final offense before being told to leave the pitch.
Nordvik helped out Due to Strand, Kvarme, Riseth and Dorsin all being out due to injuries and sickness the whole backline had to be changed before the game. Basma and Lago also being unable to play, Andreas Nordvik and Miika Koppinen had to help out. Nordvik started his first league game for RBK, and barely made a mistake.
"I want to commend Andreas. Today was his debut, but still he played very well," Henriksen said of the young half-Brazillian defender.
Nordvik and Fredrik Stoor played excellently together with Per Ciljan Skjelbred on the right, and were an unremitting source of stress for AAFK.
Helping out Troms�? Miika Koppinen stressed none but RBK. After only six minutes he had already scored an own goal: Jeffrey Aubynn sent a cross from the left, Tor Hogne Aar�y headed the ball into the RBK defender's feet, who suspiciously enough scored - helping his new employer Troms� in the duel for the fifth place.
Rosenborg got back on their feet immediately, and took over completely. Yssouf Kone should have equalized right thereafter when left alone with goalie Adin Brown, and Steffen Iversen got a goal annuled due to an offside after having scored on a rebound on a shot by Kone.
Eventually the goal came; Kone played some elegant one-two's with Alexander Tettey by the sixteen meter mark and rolled the ball easily into the net.
Owned the game The visitors from Trondhjem owned the rest of the half, and kept up the pressure after half time. Fredriksen's red card created additional grief for Aalesund. Iversen and Kone both should have scored, on a powerful shot and cross in front of an open goal, respectively.
Justice won when Marek Sapara - using his left foot - sent the ball into the net with a beatuiful twist. �yvind Storflor was responsible for the pass.
After the goal RBK moved back ever so slightly, something which could have gone wrong. AaFK got a triple chance to score, where Koppinen, Hirschfeld and Traore saved RBK's three points. Many Trondhjemmers on the stands feared that the game would end 2-2-like the game at Lerkendal, when AaFK got a corner four minutes into additional time. Luckily the referee's whistle sounded before the home team were able to do anything.
Away victory The game ended 2-1, the first three points won away since the victory in Skien almost five months ago.
"We are very pleased with the result. The boys played well. We were the better team all through the game. However, we did start to act cowardly after getting the 2-1 goal. It might have had something with the upcoming game against Valencia to do, plus we heard that Troms� were in the lead. We really wanted that fifth place," Henriksen said before he got on the bus back to Trondheim.
For Rosenborg to be allowed to play in the Intertoto Lillestr�m has to win the cupfinal, if not they are the ones who are offered a place.
Match statistics
Aalesund
1-2
ROSENBORG
Own goal (Miika Koppinen) 6
Yssouf Kone 33
Marek Sapara 72
Saturday 3. November 2007 18:00 Tippeliga, Color Line stadion, �lesund
10 780 attendants
Rosenborg [4-4-2] Lars Hirschfeld - Fredrik Stoor, Andreas Nordvik, Miika Koppinen, Abdou Razack Traor� - Per Ciljan Skjelbred, Alexander Tettey, Marak Sapara, �yvind Storflor (Jo Sondre Aas 90) - Yssouf Kone, Steffen Iversen
Yellow cards RBK: Steffen Iversen and Miika Koppinen
