Steffen Iversen and Markus Henriksen scored Tuesday to lead Rosenborg to a 2-1 win over FC Copenhagen in the first leg of the Scandinavian rivals' Champions League playoff.
Iversen lashed a left-footed volley into the roof of the net from inside the area in the 23rd minute after clever play by Rade Prica and Henriksen.
Henriksen put the Norwegians 2-0 up in the 57th when Anthony Annan's long-range shot flicked in off his heel.
Rosenborg missed several chances to extend its lead before Jesper Gronkjaer scored what could be a crucial away goal for Copenhagen in the 84th, glancing the ball in from a corner at the near post.
The return leg is in Copenhagen on Aug. 25.
It was a full-bloodied game in front of a vocal crowd at Lerkendal stadium.
There were some hefty challenges at the start of the match, with both teams trying to assert their authority. Copenhagen's Martin Vingaard was lucky to only receive a yellow card after scything down Annan with a crude studs-up challenge in the sixth minute.
Rosenborg controlled play for most of the first half but Copenhagen striker Dame N'Doye wasted two good chances to equalize as his team pushed hard in the last 10 minutes of the first period.
The second half was scrappy, with both teams struggling to string together consecutive passes.
Iversen twice came close to scoring a second goal. His curling shot from outside the area was saved by goalkeeper Johan Wiland and had another shot cleared off the line.
Annan, Rosenborg's influential midfielder, will miss the second leg after picking up a second-half booking for a late tackle.
