Tromsø 2 – 4 Rosenborg
Professional football inside the arctic cirle in mid-March. Think about that sentence for a while, say it out loud, taste it. Feel the intricate texture of its inherent dumbness, the kind of dumbness usually associated with Miss Teen USA contestants, particularly stupid animals or Bengt Eriksen.
Of course this was going to happen, what were they thinking?
What should have been an intriguing duel between one of the toughest home-sides of 2008 and the early frontrunner for the 2009 title became more of a Mexican standoff, with Jack Frost’s deranged Northern cousin making a most unwelcome appearance.
And in all fairness to Tromsø it was the hosts who arguably coped best with rough conditions at first, creating a string of chances that would have probably have earned them a lead going into half time if it hadn’t been for Rune Jarstein playing like a man possessed in the Rosenborg-goal. That and the fact that whenever Rosenborg went forward they were ruthless. Their first goal came from Alexander Tettey, whose surging run from midfield was rewarded when the Tromsø-defense failed to clear a hopefull cross from Michael Lustig. The second also came from RBK’s right flank, this time a fine cross from Per Ciljan Skjelbred was nodded home by Marek Sapara. Vadim Demidov then added insult to injury as he man-handled Tromsø’s Helge Haugen into heading a corner into his own net, a cheeky and highly illegal move that, incredibly, wasn’t spotted by any of the officials.
With Rosenborg 3-0 up at half time the game was effectively over, and any doubts that may have lingered were swiftly excorsiced three minutes into the second when Vadim Demidov added a fourth, this time using one of his own limbs rather than one of Helge Haugen’s. Tromsø continued to create chances and eventually got their reward as Miika Koppinen and Old Man Rushfelt added some gloss to the scoreline towards the end.
You could argue that the snow made the game as a bit random, that Rosenborg got the lucky bounces in the first half (not to mention the third goal which should have been extremely disallowed). However, in those conditions you make your own luck, and the passion and will to win displayed by Rosenborg here will have been just as worrying a sight for their rivals as their dismantling of Vålerenga last weekend was. It’s far too easy to imagine the best squad in the country, tipped by everyone to win the league, going to a place like Alfheim in weather like that and phoning it in, not being willing to go the extra yard (in deep snow) to get three points on the board.
A squad with more quality than any other team i the league, playing with the hunger and spirit of plucky relegation-battlers. If they continue like that, how are anyone going to keep up with them?
March 24th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Nice report. I’ve loved Tromso ever since they nearly beat Chelsea with the aid of a foot of snow. Seemed like a good game, despite the conditions.
March 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Egan Says:
March 24th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Nice report. I’ve loved Tromso ever since they nearly beat Chelsea with the aid of a foot of snow. Seemed like a good game, despite the conditions.
Tromsø almost beat Chelsea only because of the snowy conditions on the field. What about Viking FK vs. Chelsea? THAT was impressive. I cannot remember the season exactly, but maybe Lars can help out here?
March 24th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Actually, Tromsø were 2-0 up BEFORE it started snowing, it was after it all went white that Chelsea got going and scored their two away-goals, so it’s deeply unfair on Tromsø to say it was just because of the conditions.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyQNKTJDVs4)
The Viking-one was arguably a much more impressive result (especially as they actually won on aggregate whereas Tromsø were thumped at Stamford Bridge in the return-leg), it was back in 2002 iirc and that Chelsea side had guys like Terry, Lampard, Gallas and Zola in it. One thing you would say though is that Chelsea at the time were notorious for screwing up against minnows (it was something like the third time in a row they got knocked out of Europe by a small team), but it was still an almighty accomplishment by Viking
March 24th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
You are of course right about Tromsø, Lars. But I would still maintain that the conditions weatherwise were a big gain for Tromsø. Funny, I remember broadcasting the Viking vs. Chelsea double showdown live on the radio from our studio in Sandnes, and I remember exactly how happy Åge Fjermestad (local radio “hero”) was when “we” won, but I could’t even guess what year it was
March 24th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Haha, there were some funny reactions to that one yes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap5h6dtIYbo
March 24th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
I miss Benny
He was the last Viking coach I actually liked.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Sorry to interrupt the rememberances, but …
Tromso is noted for its defense. Was it the weather, Rosenberg or a little of both that allowed 4 goals? I know Tore was hurt but played. His ankle shouldn’t be the reason for that many goals.
Also, (for the Northerners), is this it for Bodo Glimt? Is that all there is or is there hope on the way?
March 25th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I think it should be added that Tromsø’s goals were both highly dubious. Koppinen’s header came only after yanking Prica’s shirt to twice the length, and Rushfeldt was offside by a mile when he was brought down for a penalty.
Still, of course, a bit of luck for Rosenborg.
March 25th, 2009 at 12:22 am
The weather definitely had a say, but as I wrote in the piece you make your own luck in conditions like that and Rosenborg just seemed to want it more. One of the goals of course should have been disallowed, but out of the three regular ones, well, it wasn’t terrible defending but they were all avoidable. Not the kind of goals you’d expect Tromsø to concede.
It would be very unfair to judge them too harshly after that one game, hopefully they’ll be back with a vengeance after the international-break.
Two games in there’s always hope, but like I wrote in the preview they have MASSIVE challenges both on and off the pitch this year. Fredrikstad and Molde are two good teams though and there’s no shame in getting just one point from those two games.
March 27th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I disagree the third RBk goal shud not have been disallows it would have been if the referee had been more observant, but the kinda thug
ing at shirt is common by defenders and they never get called on it so i don`t think Demi shud feel bad about cheating to get a 3 goal
And as said both of TILs goals were questionabel
March 27th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Come on, Demindov pulled the guy into the trajectory of the ball. If you watch the replay from the camera behind the goal it just looks silly.
I agree that defenders get away with this kind of thing far too often but that doesn’t make it legal..
(agree on TILs goals though, I just haven’t made a thing about them because they were totally irrelevant to the outcome of the game..)
March 27th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Yeah no doubt what happed was illegal but i just think it is unfair that strikers get criticized when they do illegal stuff wile defenders seem to be allowed to do anything.
March 27th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Yeah I can agree with that.
I thought it was hilarious last season when that one referee started randomly giving penalties for that kind of thing and everyone got all hot and bothered (http://fjordball.blogspot.com/2008/04/tettey-drops-himself-while-johnsen.html).
March 29th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Yeah it seems they are dooomed whatever they do.
March 30th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
http://www.rbk.no/incoming/article133676.ece
Look at the picture at the end of the article it shows that pratically evryone that was involved in the situation was thuging at each others shirts.
And this is pretty standard for any corner kick so again no i don`t feel Demi shud feel bad.