Alavés (3) 2 - Lillestrom (1) 2

Alavés: Herrera; Djolonga, Karmona, Eggen, Téllez, Geli (Gañan 85'); Astudillo, Desio, Mario (Epitié 55'); Iván Alonso, Magno (Vucko 55'). 5-3-2.

Goals:
1-0. 01. Magno. Lobbed ball over keeper and headed in after Alonso pass.
1-1. 04. Strand. Long ball into area which everybody missed.
1-2. 50. Sögard. Headed goal after pass from Zanetti.
2-2. 70. Epitié. Drove ball home after goalmouth scramble.

The victims almost became the hunters in this surprising game. Lilleström turned up for the match with a squad of only 16 players claiming that the tie was already lost after the 1-3 result in the first leg. The Norwegian league has already taken a break for winter, and four of their first choice players were injured. It is no wonder then that the Alavés manager Mané decided he could rest some of his key players and give a chance to others who have not played much this season. In then came Djolonga, Mario and Iván Alonso, with Astudillo also returning to the side after an injury and B team player Epitié on the bench.

If the fans thought it was all over before the match began, they certainly believed it less than one minute into the game when tiny Magno flicked the ball over the keeper's head, ran around him (or was it between his legs?) and headed the ball into the net. However while they were still celebrating the Norwegians reminded them that the fat lady had not sung yet, Strand catching Herrera unsighted with a long ball into the area which ran on into the goal. Alavés peppered the opposing penalty area but they let their prey off the hook, with a series of shots which were off target, particularly from Iván Alonso who put three or four wide. Mario hit the crossbar and Baron saved from Magno before the referee blew for half time, and Lilleström went in to regroup.

Then the unimaginable happened. In only their second foray into the Alavés half, the visitors took the lead, with Sögard heading past a surprised Herrera. Suddenly they were only a goal away from levelling the tie, and Mané decided to bring on a couple of forwards, Vucko and Epitié, resting Mario and Magno. The wave of pink (Alavés's European team shirts which contain the names of all season ticket holders in microfiche - a snip at 65 euros from the Soccer-Spain shop) continued, with Epitié, on loan from Real Madrid B, demonstrating that he has the class to be given more opportunities. His was the goal twenty minutes from time which saved the red faces, and Alavés go on to the next round having learnt the lesson never to underestimate a European opponent. As chance would have it, the next team they meet Rosenborg are also Norwegian, although they will surely take them more seriously after they more than held their own in the Champions League.