Pilař strikes as Plzeň shock Rosenborg

Václav Pilař scored the only goal as FC Viktoria Plzeň got the better of Rosenborg BK at the Lerkendal Stadion in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie.

Czech champions for the first time in 2011, Plzeň are competiting in Europe after a 39-year absence. They have shown no nerves on their return, signalling their intent with a 9-1 aggregate victory against FC Pyunik in the previous round. Pilař's crisp 33rd-minute finish means they can now dream of claiming a much bigger scalp when the tie concludes at Stadion města Plzně next Wednesday.

The visitors may have thought that it was not going to be their night when goalkeeper Roman Pavlík went down in his box with a knee injury in the 16th minute and was replaced by Michal Daněk. It proved to be a temporary blip, as Milan Petržela fizzed a warning shot just wide ten minutes before Pilař struck.

Although Marek Bakoš played his part by nodding a cross into the path of Pilař, the goal was all about the No6 as he escaped from Jim Larsen and beat Daniel Örlund with ease. Rosenborg had to wait until the 42nd minute to get the home fans on their feet, Jonas Svensson heading Mikael Dorsin's cross wide.

Rosenborg enjoyed plenty of possession after the break but found Plzeň's defence in stubborn mood. Chances were rare, though Per Ciljan Skjelbred and Mikael Lustig both missed presentable ones to equalise. In between those efforts, Petr Jiráček went closer still to doubling the advantage when heading Pavel Horváth's cross against the outside of the post in the 85th minute.