Uefa Europa Conference League second qualifying round, first leg
Crusaders 2 Rosenborg 2
CRUSADERS produced a performance of the ages to snatch a 2-2 draw with Norwegian heavyweights Rosenborg in the first leg of their Uefa Europa Conference League tie at Seaview.
Philip Lowry got the opener before the visitors hit back with two goals before half-time, but Crusaders upped the ante in the second half and were rewarded with a Billy Joe Burns deflected equaliser, before they had chances to win it on the night.
They now have a real stab at going through heading into next Thursday’s tie in Trondheim.
The home side entered the fray unchanged from last week, with captain Burns recovering from a rib injury. They started the brighter of the two sides, surprising with an attacking style rather than looking to play on the counter.
Just five minutes in Crusaders had the first effort. Ross Clarke played a ball over the defence and Ben Kennedy drilled a low effort on target but it was well saved by Andre Hansen in goal.
Six minutes later the Crues did make the breakthrough. Ranging striker Adam Lecky flicked on a long ball and Lowry smashed home from 10 yards to send the home crowd delirious.
On 16 minutes, Stephen Baxter’s men were unlucky not to double their lead. Jordan Forsythe played a delightful through ball for Paul Heatley whose shot from eight yards out was bundled on to the post and away by keeper Hansen.
As the half wore on, Rosenborg began to stamp their authority with some patient build-up and they made their possession pay on 30 minutes.
Influential attacker Carlo Holse smartly dummied Philip Lowry before unleashing a swerving low effort from the edge of the area which appeared to catch Crues’ keeper Jonny Tuffey out to make it 1-1.
Things went from bad to worse 12 minutes later for the home side. Defender Daniel Larmour was guilty of a handball inside the box and up stepped striker Ole Saeter to calmly stroke the ball down the middle of the goal to make it 2-1 at the break.
Crusaders began the second period well with Forsythe going close with a header on 55 minutes. Despite this, the Rosenborg threat on the counter-attack remained and they had two excellent chances within 60 seconds just after the hour mark. Firstly, Holse, then Saeter missed the target when they should have scored.
With the home support continuing to make as much noise as possible, the north Belfast side got a deserved equaliser against the run of play.
Lowry stumbled on the ball which rolled back into the path of Burns, who unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 yards. Defender Erlend Reitan got in the way but only diverted the ball into the net leaving his goalkeeper with no chance. The roof was well and truly lifted off Seaview.
In the dying moments it was the Crues who finished stronger and could have won it with a Burns shot out wide which was magnificently saved and a goalmouth scramble that somehow stayed out.
A breathless finish to an excellent game and the Crues can be proud of their effort and live on for another week.
Crusaders Tuffey, Burns, Lowry, Kennedy (Owens 73), Lecky (Winchester 65), Forsythe, O’Rourke, Larmour, Heatley, McKeown, Clarke (Anderson 73)
Rosenborg Hansen, Reitan, Borkeeiet (Skjelbred), Saeter (Sadiku 65), Holse, Nelson (Rosten 90), Rogers, Bjorlo, Pereira, Tagseth, Jenssen
