Heroic Linfield secure magnificent draw in Euro tie

LINFIELD set up a mouth-watering away tie in Norway next week with a heroic scoreless draw at Windsor Park last night (Wednesday) in their Champions League encounter with Norwegian champions, Rosenborg BK.

David Jeffrey's side defied the odds as they came close to pulling off a shock win against the European heavyweights who famously held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in 2007.

The Blues – galvanised by an 1800-strong Windsor Park crowd – secured a valiant 0-0 draw against the Norwegian champions.

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The build-up to the game revolved around the apparent gulf in class between the professional visitors and Irish League part-timers. Based on last night's clash it was hard to decipher the difference between the sides.

Rosenborg – boasting talent including former Spurs striker Steffen Iversen and Ghana's World Cup star Anthony Annan – provided a limp threat at the international stadium.

The Norwegians' anaemic display was mirrored by a rapier Linfield side who could easily have emerged with a historic victory under the belts.

Despite the lack of goals the 0-0 stalemate keeps this second qualifying round tie firmly in the balance heading into next week's return leg in Trondheim – a scenario not many fans would have confidently predicted prior to last night's game.

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Jeffrey will know his players still face a formidable challenge at the Lerkendal Stadion, but the underdogs tag will suit the Carling Premiership champions down to the ground.

Linfield comfortably contained Rosenborg throughout proceedings, limiting the visitors to half chances in the opening 45 minutes.

And the visitors only threatened in the final 15 minutes when weary legs started to take their toll.

Noel Bailie almost deflected Mikael Dorsin's low cross into his own net in the 16th minute but Alan Blayney was alert to the danger.

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Blayney was also called into action on 40 minutes, saving comfortably from Markus Henriksen's effort from the edge of the box.

Linfield maintained their momentum into the second period and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 49th minute.

Billy Joe Burns went rampaging on another trademark run down the right flank before crossing to the back post, but the onrushing Brian McCaul could only direct his shot into the ground and over the bar.

At the other end Iversen's low shot from the edge of the box was collected by Blayney at the near post, while World Cup hero Annan was forced into a last-ditch block from Thompson's low cross.

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Rosenborg substitute Strand Roar then fired a shot just past Blayney's right hand post in the 63rd minute.

Blayney was called into action eight minutes later with a flying save to deny Henriksen, the keeper diving full stretch to his left to palm away the curling right-foot effort.

Bailie came to Linfield's rescue four minutes from time as Rosenborg almost crafted a cruel winner.

The veteran defender clearing off the line from Moldskred's point-blank effort.

Referee Said Ennjimi then called a halt to proceedings, with the draw nothing less than the Blues deserved on a proud night at Windsor Park.