Patrick Mortensen's extra time header was enough to send underdogs Sarpsborg 08 through to face Rosenborg in the Norwegian Cup Final in November. The match had started in a crackling atmosphere as I said earlier but you could feel the tension inside the stadium as the hosts, favourites to reach the November final, seemed to struggle with that tag as they seemed more nervous than there opponents. The first half was a very tight and tense affair and the hosts probably shaded a pretty drab opening forty five minutes where chances were at a premium. Neither side tested each other keeper as the enormity of the match wasn't lost on both sides as the majority of the near 13,000 crowd tried their best to lift the hosts towards what they hoped would be a second half win and a place in the final. Moments into the second half the hosts thought they had the lead when broke down the right but unfortunately the ball squared to middle of the goal saw the Viking forward Abdullahi stray offside before hammering the ball home and the goal was chalked off as a result. This was the only moment of goal mouth action in the second half for quite sometime as both sides failed to get anything going up front. It was looking more and more likely that extra time would be needed as the game drifted towards the last five minutes but those last few minutes almost saw the hosts score twice as they suddenly stepped the pace up somewhat. Substitute Moore was involved in both chances, firstly heading a knock back across goal inches wide of goal and then a minute later his knockdown almost found a teamate in the middle but it was too far infront and the ball drifted out. Sarpsborg attacked near the end of normal time but saw solid defending by the hosts keep them at bay and so the match ended goal less and extra time it was, just like yesterday's semi final. The visitors so nearly scored four minutes into the first period of extra time when an effort from inside the box crashed back off the bar and then moments later Viking should of done better when a cross from Danielsen saw skipper Sigurdsson head wide while totally unmarked. Then in the 98th mnute came the goal that took Sarpsborg to Oslo and the final at Ullevaal Stadion in November. A cross from the right saw Patrick Mortensen rise highest to plant a header into the corner of Viking's net and send the visitors supporters wild with delight in the opposite end of the stadium. Viking nearly went two behind soon after as they were rocking from the first goal and it took a smart tip over from keeper Austbo to keep the effort out. The crowd sensed the home players needed a lift and for almost the entire second period of extra time saw the hosts camped inside Sarpsborg's half. Adegbendo struck the base of the post moments into the second period with Sarpsborg keeper Heinze totally beaten and the hosts missed several good chances as the visitors were defending for their lives. Alas it wasn't to be for the hosts and after 122 minutes of Semi Final action the referee blew for the end and it was the underdogs who had prevailed into the Final.
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