EL: Rosenborg beats Shkendija 3:1 (Video)

Shkendija suffered the same defeat as Vardar last season away to Rosenborg. The 3:1 defeat still gives small hope thanks to the away goal scored by Stênio Júnior.

photo by Rosenborg BK: Issam Jebali scores his lob goal

Rosenborg once again proved to be a tough opponent for the Macedonian teams. Last season in the group stage of the Europa League they first beat Vardar 3:1 and later played a 1:1 draw in Skopje, while now they smashed Shkendija as well, but in the play-offs.

Besides playing on the road, it was Shkendija who took control right after the kick off and threatened on couple of occasions. First attempt was in the 4th minute when Nafiu passed the ball to Emini who from inside the box missed the target by little. In the very next minute Stênio Júnior tried from a rebound but his shot went wide.

However, Rosenborg managed to score an early goal by their very first serious chance. A counter attack in the 11th minute ended with the ball being given to Tunisian forward Issam Jebali who scored a beautiful lob goal. Kostadin Zahov was not at the goal line, Jebali noticed that and sent a great shot. Three minutes later Jebali could have doubled the lead after curling a shot just centimeters wide of the post.

In the 15th minute Nicklas Bendtner scored for 2:0 with a header after a cross by Jonathan Levi. It did not have much power, but the placement was perfect. It bounced once and went just over the outstretched arms of Zahov. Bendtner also scored against Vardar in the group stage last season at this very same stadium.

After conceding the second goal Shkendija started dominating the play again. Besart Ibraimi fired a rocket on a free kick from long range in the 28th minute, but André Hansen got down and pushed away the ball. It was so close to a goal, but the next attempt by Ibraimi just a minute later was even better as he hit the post from a long range.

Again after a period of domination by Shkendija, it was the home team that scored. This time it was Levi who got an easy tap-in after a nicely executed counter attack in the 44th minute. Rosenborg went on half-time with a 3:0 lead but the scoreline isn’t indicative of how the game has gone. The Macedonians played their hearts out with a lot of chances and possession from them. The difference has simply been the clinical finishing from the Norwegians.

After the break it was obvious that the Shkendija players are heartbroken with the outcome of the first half. They lacked the enthusiasm, but also the home players were different in their approach having in mind the big lead.

In the 76th minute eventually Shkendija scored a goal. Stênio Júnior received a ball on the edge of the box, fired a shot that hit Even Hovland on its way to the goal enough to slightly change direction and end up in the home net. Believe it or not, this was the first goal scored on the road for Shkendija this summer in the European cups.

Two minutes from end the ball perfectly found Ibraimi at the edge of the area after a bad clearance, but his shot hit the head of Konradsen. He sacrificed his body to make that block. Captain Alimi was asking for a penalty for a hand ball, but only got himself a yellow card. The referee was right as the ball hit Konradsen only in the face.

The return leg will be played next Thursday in Skopje. The 3:1 defeat is still big besides the away goal, but a hope for a 2:0 home win will be there for everyone at Shkendija.

Lerkendal stadium in Trondheim Norway
Norway Rosenborg – Macedonia Shkendija 3:1 (3:0)
Goals: 11′ Issam Jebali, 15′ Nicklas Bendtner, 44′ Jonathan Levi – 76′ Stênio Júnior
Rosenborg: 1. Hansen; 3. Meling, 4. Reginiussen, 16. Hovland, 2. Hedenstad (78′ 21. Reitan); 8. Konradsen, 25. Lundemo (74′ 5. Denić), 7. Jensen (C); 27. Jebali, 9. Bendtner, 17. Levi (68′ 23. Helland).
Shkendija: 1. Zahov; 21. Mici, 33. Adili, 6. Musliu, 16. Murati; 8. Totre, 5. Alimi (C); 18. Stênio Júnior, 20. Emini (78′ 19. Bojku), 34. Nafiu (63′ 9. Selmani); 7. Ibraimi.
Yellow cards: Lundemo (R), Alimi (Sh)
Red cards: /
Referee: Orel Grinfeld Israel
Assistants: Dvir Shimon & Roy Hassan Israel
Fourth official: Alon Yefet Israel

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