Vålerenga IF stunned SK Brann with a ruthless first-half blitz, taking a 3-0 lead before holding on for a 3-2 win despite playing the final 33 minutes with ten men. The visitors had just 29% possession but were far more clinical, registering 12 shots on target to Brann's seven.
Henrik Bjørdal opened the scoring in the 24th minute, Carl Lange doubled the lead four minutes before half-time, and Lucas Haren made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time — all before Brann had a shot on target. Niklas Castro pulled one back in the 65th minute, and Felix Horn Myhre set up a tense finish with a goal in the 77th, but Brann couldn't find an equaliser.
Ivan Näsberg's red card in the 57th minute forced Vålerenga to dig deep, and they did so impressively. Despite Brann creating four big chances (to Vålerenga's one) and racking up an expected goals total of 2.29, the visitors' 1.54 xG proved enough — a stark reminder that efficiency beats dominance on the day.
