Eddie Lewis, Shaun Derry, Richard Cresswell, Stephen Crainey and Sean Gregan did not travel – Lewis was given additional time to recuperate from the World Cup.
Seb Carole, Hayden Foxe and Ben Parker all made their debuts for United but it was Bakke who stood out with an outstanding display in the middle of the park as he orchestrated most of the attacks for Leeds.
He made chances for Robbie Blake and Jermaine Beckford in the first half but Leeds finally managed to score a few minutes before half-time when a cross by Frazer Richardson was put away by Ole Heiren Hansen into his own net past keeper Rino Hansen.
But Sarpsborg equalised 10 minutes into the second half after sub Diagnelatyr hit a route one ball past Leeds keeper Ian Bennett.
Half way through the second period Leeds took the lead again when Carole was upended in the box and Bakke duly obliged from the spot. That's how to take them England!
But the hosts grabbed a share of the spoils when, after hitting the woodwork twice, Halvarsen touched home from close range.
David Healy, on for Blake, nearly snatched victory in the dying moments but it took a goalline clearance from Dan Harding to make sure United did not start their pre-season with a defeat.
It was a solid workout for the Whites who were playing, after all, a team in the middle of their own domestic season. (The 2006-season of Norwegian football's second division kicked off on April 9, 2006 with 11 rounds being played before the World Cup break on June 5. The league resumed on July 2 and the final round is scheduled for November 5, 2006).
Besides Bakke, Steve Stone showed up well before being replaced by Joel Griffiths. Bennett made an impressive display in goal and Harding played the whole match at left-back.
The Whites: Bennett, Richardson, Foxe, Parker, Harding, Stone, Bakke, Einarsson, Carole, Beckford, Blake.
Subs: (All on 73 mins) Kelly for Richardson, Butler for Foxe, Kilgallon for Parker, Griffiths for Stone, Hulse for Beckford, Healy for Blake.
Sarpsborg: R Hansen (Brathen 47), O Hansen (Jusufi 47), Faranczuck, Mathisen, Stubsveen (Haraldsen 81), Lobieniecki, Larsen (Rustadstven 40), Johannessen (Jorgensen 81), Sharif, Dahm (Halvorsen 47), Turner (Diagnelatyr).
See match highlights: http://tinyurl.com/kgoz7
League table
After May 29, 2006
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strømsgodset | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 5 | +14 | 26 |
| 2 | Aalesund | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 8 | +19 | 25 |
| 3 | Bryne | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 10 | +9 | 20 |
| 4 | Bodø/Glimt | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 15 | +8 | 17 |
| 5 | Sogndal | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 17 |
| 6 | Løv-Ham | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 15 |
| 7 | Kongsvinger | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 15 |
| 8 | Moss | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 14 |
| 9 | Hønefoss | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 11 |
| 10 | Tromsdalen | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 11 |
| 11 | Sparta Sarpsborg | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 11 |
| 11 | Pors Grenland | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 11 |
| 13 | Haugesund | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 9 |
| 14 | Manglerud Star | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 30 | -19 | 6 |
| 15 | Follo | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 25 | -9 | 5 |
| 16 | Hødd | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 24 | -18 | 3 |