Match Report: Rosenborg 2-1 Hearts

Hearts were defeated 2-1 by Rosenborg in the first leg of their Europa Conference League Qualifier at Lerkendal Stadion on Thursday night, as Lawrence Shankland’s late header ensured the Jambos remained in the tie ahead of the second leg at Tynecastle next Thursday.

There were three changes from the side that beat St Johnstone at the weekend. Alex Cochrane, Beni Baningime and Alex Lowry replaced Stephen Kingsley, Peter Haring and Calem Nieuwenhof.

 It was the home side who started the brighter of the two teams and they had two half chances in the opening five minutes.

Firstly, Carlo Holse curled the ball wide from Adrian Pereira’s cutback, before Nypan drove at the Hearts defence and let fly, but his effort flew high over the bar.

The hosts went ahead after 13 minutes. Nypan cut in off the left wing and his teasing cross was bundled in at the back post by Emil Frederiksen.

Hearts responded well and almost got back on terms courtesy of Alan Forrest. He danced between Rosenborg defenders, but his low drive was well saved by Hansen Andre.

Up the other end, Zander Clark was called into action to smartly deny Jayden Nelson’s effort, before Kye Rowles was first to react to the rebound and clear the danger.

The home side doubled their lead in the final minute of the half as Nypan broke forward and unselfishly squared the ball to Jayden Nelson to tap the ball into the empty net.

Half time: Rosenborg 2-0 Hearts

Haring replaced Baningime at half-time for the Jambos, who started the second half with purpose. Nathaniel Atkinson made good ground down the right before whipping in a dangerous cross which just evaded Lawrence Shankland in the middle.

The Jambos looked to have a good shout for a penalty just before the hour mark when Lowry tried to get on the end of Cochrane’s diagonal switch, and when he collided with Hansen in the Rosenborg goal. Hearts appeals fell on deaf ears.

Hearts continued to push for a way back into the tie and they got it eleven minutes from time. Substitute Stephen Kingsley lofted a ball in from the left and birthday boy Shankland was waiting to head home from six yards.

From that moment, the whole atmosphere changed. The home side were beginning to drop a little deeper and the Hearts fans behind the goal the Jambos were attacking in the second half were given a lift.

The Jambos couldn’t carve out a chance to draw level in the closing stages, meaning the Norwegians will take a slender lead for the second leg at Tynecastle next Thursday.

Rosenborg BK: Hansen, Andersson, Reitan, Jenssen, Pereira, Holse, Borkeeiet, Nypan, Frederiksen, Thorvaldsson (Wiedesheim-Paul, 62), Nelson (Vaananen, 73)

Subs: Tangvik, Cornic, Rogers, Rosten, Skjelbred, Skarsem, Vaananen, Bjorlo, Tagseth, Holte, Wiedesheim-Paul

Hearts: Clark, Kent, Baningime (Haring, 46), Shankland ©, Oda (Boyce, 83), Atkinson, Devlin (Denholm, 70), Rowles, Forrest (Kingsley, 60) Cochrane, Lowry (Grant, 60)

Subs: McGovern, McFarlane, Kingsley, Haring, Grant, Boyce, Halliday, Sibbick, Denholm, Smith, Rathie, Wilson