Scores
Rosenborg BK 1 – 1 Valerenga (M)
Back home with a socially distant crowd and a new chapter to write, Rosenborg looked much more dangerous against Valerenga than they had so far this season. This was due in no small part to Emil Konradsen Ceide’s absolutely stunning grace and intelligence on the ball.
That highlight reel is a thing of beauty. His perfect judgement of positioning and angles to draw in defenders and set up the howling Marius Lundemo strike is just a joy to behold.
Oh, yeah, Valerenga scored too to equalize against a still shaky defense, but I’m too busy drooling over Ceide’s skills and smarts to care.
Rosenborg BK v LSK Kvinner 
The Toppserien came back this weekend, with Rosenborg’s newly partnered women’s side kicking off against the reigning champions from Lillestrom LSV. Both teams have won the women’s division seven times, but the Trondheim ladies haven’t come close in 15 years.
LSK looked like a championship side on the rainy pitch. Battering at the Rosenborg goal could well have yielded a few more goals than it did, but credit to young Julie Blakstad for a knuckling ball that bashed through the opponent’s hands and into the back of the net for a great equalizer.
Stabaek 0 – 3 Rosenborg BK (M)
The class of the Troll Children started to shine through a little more on Sunday. (Seriously, that’s their nickname. I don’t know how I haven’t used it in every Rosenborg post ever, but here we are.)
They appeared in total control of the game against Stabaek, perhaps none more so than Left Back, Anders Trondsen who inserted himself into two build ups to frazzle the defense and set up the team’s second and third goals. As RBK brings in a few more high profile names and starts to stretch their legs out for more fast paced style, the team has a great chance to build throughout July.
News & Notes
Summer Transfers start to sizzle
After several months of inaction, teams have begun to move players around, particularly now that the first major European league (Germany’s Bundesliga) has closed up shop for the summer.
Freiburg said goodbye to Yoric Ravet, Jerome Gondorf, and Pascal Stenzel, none of whom seemed to factor much in the action this past season. But word that Schalke is sweet on goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow and set to steal him away, might well give Griffins something to worry about.
Meanwhile, the end of the Bundesliga brought great news for Rosenborg, as beloved youth product and international standard midfielder Per Ciljan Skjelbred leaves Hertha Berlin to rejoin his home town club. (That caption above reads “Per is back where he calls home”) It’s particularly valuable as Marius Lundemo prepares to head off for sunny Cyprus and the team needs a new central pivot for their attack.
Loons take flight…?
Here in the US, Major League Soccer is due to restart tomorrow…except…
So, America isn’t really a functional society right now. We’re a too divided and mad at each other to do the basic things and make the basic sacrifices that Norway and Germany did already. Instead of testing like crazy in Germany, only the lines to get tested are crazy. Instead of social distanced everything like in Norway, we have people partying up on top of each other.
And so, one team has already been removed from the tournament due to positive test results, and a warm up match against an opponent was cancelled. So…maybe we have a game on Sunday, or maybe we see it all come crashing to a halt…again.
Man of the Matches
He didn’t score. He didn’t factor in to the cruising win at Staebek, but my goodness, I think I’m in love with Emil Konradsen Ceide.
What’s Next
Wednesday, July 8
Thursday, July 9
Friday, July 10
Saturday, July 11
7:00 AM Lyn Football v. Rosenborg BK
1:30 PM Rosenborg BK v Stromsgodset (M)
Sunday, July 12
7:00 PM Sporting KC v. Minnesota United
MacKenzie's Boot Room 