Resilient Rosenborg hold on
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Article summary
Rosenborg BK 3-2 FC Steaua Bucuresti (agg: 4-3)Norwegian side survive late rally from Romanian visitors to book place in Thursday's draw.
Article body
Rosenborg BK qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League after a 3-2 third qualifying round second-leg victory at home against FC Steaua Bucuresti.
Nervy finish
Goals from Jan Gunnar Solli and Alexander Ødegaard put the Norwegian side in control before a Mirel Radoi own goal gave them a three-goal advantage. But two goals in two minutes from Steaua made Rosenborg sweat for the last quarter of an hour before they could celebrate a 4-3 aggregate success.
Substitute strikes
Solli actually started on the bench but an early injury to Thorstein Helstad saw him take the field in the 15th minute. Playing alongside Frode Johnsen and Øyvind Storflor in attack, Solli struck the opening goal seven minutes before half-time.
Instant impact
Storflor and defender Uruguayan Alejandro Lago made way for Daniel Braaten and Ødegaard respectively during the interval and within eleven minutes of the restart, the latter struck to increase the home side's advantage.
Quick goals
Radoi's own goal on the hour looked to have confirmed Rosenborg's place in the competition proper but the Steaua defender soon made amends to give the Romanian side hope of a comeback, something which became a distinct possibility when Radoi's 74th-minute effort was followed a minute later by a goal from Victoras Iacob.
Thursday draw
Another strike from the visitors would have seen them qualify by virtue of the away-goals rule but Rosenborg held on to take their place in Thursday's draw.