James Ampofo came off the bench to make a game-changing impact for Raufoss, netting a crucial late equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw against Mjøndalen in Round 2 of the Norwegian First Division at Consto Arena.
Mjøndalen took the lead in the 60th minute when Ebrima Sawaneh finished calmly with his left foot from the center of the box. Despite Raufoss controlling possession and creating more chances throughout the match, they appeared to be heading for defeat.
In search of a spark, Raufoss head coach Tom Dent made a bold move in the 73rd minute, substituting in Ghanaian forward James Ampofo for Erlend Hustad. The change soon paid off.
Although Ampofo initially missed a clear one-on-one opportunity, he kept his composure and didn’t let the miss shake his confidence. Just 15 minutes after stepping onto the pitch, he redeemed himself in the best possible way.
In the 88th minute, following a smartly executed set piece, Kristoffer Hay delivered a pinpoint ball into the box. It found Ampofo in the right spot, and he blasted it past the goalkeeper to stun the home fans and bring Raufoss level.
The draw keeps the rivalry between the two clubs perfectly balanced—four wins each and four draws—highlighting just how evenly matched these sides continue to be.
