StabaekFotball

Stabæk had two scoring opportunities within the first three minutes without getting a goal.

And it was the teams lack of effectiveness in front of the goal that is to blame for the lack of points. Thus, RBK continues its impressive streak of 23 matches without a loss in this years series.

Stabæks will have to take their only comfort in a record attendance of 13.409 that followed the match at Telenor Arena.

RBK coach Hamrén was not impressed with his teams efforts during the first half.

“No, Nannskog had two great scoring opportunities within the first couple of minutes that really scared us. We became very defensive and was not able to play our game the way we wanted to. We do not play well, and Stabæk is much better than us the first 45 minutes. We are lucky that we are able to go to half time with a 0 – 1 lead given the way we play in the first half. In the second half we take more controll over the game and play good football. I think, thus, that it is fair that we win in the end. We have several other big scoring opportunities where we could have scored, but today it was enough with the two goals we did score, so we are happy. Stabæk has won the last seven games here in Telenor Arena, and we considered this to be one of our most difficult matches in the fall season. It shows strength that we can win on days like these. And we are very happy that we leave here with three points”, says Hamrén smilingly as he heads for the players bus.

Jan Jønsson was not as happy with his teams zero points.

“We do not take advantage of the opportunits we have today, unfortunately. Had we been more effective in front of the goal the match could have turned out differently, but Rosenborg are more effective than us and come away with all three points today. When Rosenborg scored their second goal they got match into the rythm they wanted. They fall back and play a very solid defensive game. We have anough chances to score more goals, but it is difficult to play against a defensively well orgianised team. They score on their opportunities, and we do not. Last year we took six points in our two games against Rosenborg, and this year they take six points from us. Teams that are on a roll often win games like these. Like we did last year, and like Rosenborg does this year. But all honour to Rosenborg who have now played 23 matches without a loss. Effectivenes, and the ability to win tight matches are important qualities if one wants to win the Eliteseries. And Rosenborg has won it already”, admits Jønsson, who now looks forward to the important match against Odd next weekend. “It will be a very important match. We are fighting with, among others, Odd for the bronze medal, so it is self evident that this match is important to us in relation to our ambitions”, says Jønsson.

Daniel Nannskog is surprisingly satisfied with his efforts after the match.

“Yes, it sounds funny, but this was a rather good match for me. Today both my runs and the passes functioned as they should, which has not happened earlier this year. I should, of course, have scored on the opportunities I get early on in the match, and it simply is not good enough that I am not able to do that. But I still see the positive in the situation. And I now believe that there will be more goals in the up coming matches, and we have many important matches left this fall”, says Nannskog. That Rosenborg played with eight men defensively in the first half did not surprise him. “Most of the teams we meet here at Telenor Arena play defensively, so this is nothing new to us. It is even more important, therefore, that the runs and the passes function as they are supposed to. We must take the positive elements from this match and work hard in the up coming matches. We have a lot of tough matches coming up, and have to be more effective if we are to have a chance of winning the bronze medal”, admits a surprisingly content Swede.

That Jarstein and Rosenborg seemed more interested in delaying the game by all possible means towards the end of the second half is one thing. That the referee allowed this to happen can also be discussed. But it is under no circumstances acceptable to throw objects after the goalkeeper - it is only stupid, and does not belong at Telenor Arena (or anywhere else for that matter).

Our next match is a tough away match against Odd. Like us, they also lost their match this weekend. After our 3 – 3 draw at Telenor Arena this spring , there is no reason to believe that this will be an easy match. Honour, three points, and possibly the bronze medal, is at stake. Let us hope we are able to better capitalise on our opportunities in this match.

See more pictures at the end of this article.

Match statistics: Stabæk - RBK 1-2

Stabæk-TV: See highlights from Stabæk - RBK 1-2

Photo: Johan Stub