Ghanaian forward James Ampofo made a big impact off the bench to help Raufoss secure a 3-2 victory over Åsane in a dramatic Round 3 clash at NAMMO Stadion on Monday.
The 21-year-old striker started on the bench but was introduced as early as the 13th minute after Erlend Hustad suffered an injury. Just 15 minutes later, Ampofo made his presence felt, scoring with a composed finish in the 28th minute to double Raufoss’s lead following Jan Inge Lynum’s opener.
Ampofo wasn’t done yet. In the 39th minute, he turned provider, delivering an assist for Markus Myre Aanesland, who made it 3-0 to cap off a dominant first-half performance by the home side.
Despite controlling 71% of the possession and registering more shots overall, Åsane couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Goals from Kristoffer Barmen and Sebastian Haugland in the second half gave them hope, but Raufoss held on for the win.
The result tightens the historical rivalry between the two teams. Åsane now leads the head-to-head with six wins, while Raufoss trails with five, and three matches have ended in draws.
Ampofo has now scored two goals and provided one assist in just two appearances this season, underlining his growing importance to the team.
Raufoss will return to action on April 24, when they face Strømmen in the Norwegian Cup.
