Battling Linfield bow out

The tie was evenly balanced after the first leg scoreless draw in Belfast but this was still a huge ask for the Irish League underdogs against the fulltimers from Norway.

However, Linfield can feel proud of their performance and they surprised their opponents by creating a few chances in the first 20 minutes.

Things were going according to the game plan when suddenly the home side cashed in at the back post when Prica fired home on 32 minutes.

That lifted the home team and they soon had the Blues on the back foot as they searched for a second goal.

Linfield soaked up the pressure with goalkeeper Alan Blayney playing his part with some great handling under pressure.

Towards the end of the half a rare chance for the Blues came when Burns clipped a great cross in and Peter Thompson almost got in ahead of the keeper.

The half-time whistle came as a relief to the Blues and boss David Jeffrey would have been happy only to trail by one goal.

With away goals counting as double an equaliser could have turned the tie around and the visitors came out for the second half aiming to play at a higher tempo and they almost got their reward when the impressive McCaul set up Peter Thompson but his dipping shot drifted just wide.

As the game progressed Linfield legs began to tire and Rosenborg created some fine chances with Blayney pulling off two great saves to keep the dream alive.

Jeffrey brought on Curtis Allen and Michael Carvill but any hopes of pulling off a shock win ended on 86 minutes when a sweeping move ended with the rising star from Norway Markus Henriksen giving Blayney no chance.

So two hammer blows for the Blues but still a magnificent display over the two legs.