[goldenHuddlestone]

Rosenborg BK had taken control of their UEFA Champions League 2nd qualifying round tie with FC Astana as they won the 1st leg 3-1 in Kazakhstan.

The home side were depleted with Bulgarian midfielder Dian Todorov suspended and defender Maksim Zhalmagambetov on trial at SK Slovan Bratislava.

And they suffered the worst probable start when Burkina Faso forward Yssouf Kone headed in a 6th minute cross from the left for Norway's Rosenborg, back in this competition after missing out for the 1st time in 12 seasons last year.

Alexandr Irkhin's side were nearly further behind 5 minutes later, when Steffen Iversen fired a free kick straight at Astana goalie Sergei Boichenko. Shortly after that Iversen turned provider for Didier Ya Konan to shoot only past the target.

Astana slowly came back into the game however and after Eduard Sergienko failed to make the most of a one-on-one opportunity, they equalised when captain Aleksandr Kuchma struck a sweet free kick in off the underside of the crossbar.

But after the break Rosenborg again had taken control with Kone the inspiration. It was his burst into the penalty area on 63 minutes that forced Boichenko to bring him down and Iversen converted the spot-kick. Kone swiftly made it 3-1 with a shot that crept in at the near post from the most acute of angles.

Murat Suyumagambetov, Kenzhisariev and Alexandr Suchkov all went close for Astana however they now have a mountain to climb next Wednesday in Trondheim.