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Defensive blunders give Lillestrøm first win over Brann in 10 years

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Outcome reported
  • Lillestrøm beat Brann 2-1 at Brann Stadion, scoring twice in the first half after defensive mistakes by the hosts.
  • Fredrik Gulbrandsen capitalized on errors from Thore Pedersen and Vetle Dragsnes, while Bård Finne’s 89th-minute goal could not save Brann.
  • The result gave Lillestrøm their first league victory over Brann in 10 years and extended Brann’s concerns about their form and organization.

Lillestrøm needed two defensive mistakes from Brann to secure a 2-1 victory in Bergen, but the result carried extra weight: it was Lillestrøm’s first league win over Brann in 10 years.

After six minutes, Félix Vá took advantage when Thore Pedersen mishandled the ball as the last defender. Lillestrøm struck again in the 22nd minute. Vetle Dragsnes, a former Lillestrøm player, headed the ball back toward Brann goalkeeper Mathias Dyngeland, but the effort was too weak. Fredrik Gulbrandsen read the situation, stole the ball and stretched out a leg to make it 2-0.

The two mistakes shaped our match because they create a little more stress in a team that is working to find a rhythm.

· Eirik HornelandThe Brann coach assessed the defensive errors that helped Lillestrøm take a two-goal lead.

Brann reduced the deficit through Bård Finne in the 89th minute, but the late goal could not rescue the home side. Brann had controlled much of the second half, and Ulrik Mathisen was awarded a penalty before referee Espen Eskås overturned the decision after checking the pitchside VAR monitor.

Brann coach Eirik Horneland said the two errors shaped the match by placing extra stress on a team still trying to find its rhythm. Brann, who are set to play in the Conference League, have now been left searching for the level they want to reach.

“The symptoms of a well-functioning collective are not there. We are a fragile football team, a somewhat fragile collective, and a team still looking for its shape. It is a shape we have to work on every single day,” Horneland told TV 2.

The symptoms of a well-functioning collective are not there. We are a fragile football team, a somewhat fragile collective, and a team still looking for its shape. It is a shape we have to work on every single day.

· Eirik HornelandHorneland described Brann’s lack of cohesion and the work still needed to reach the desired level.

Lillestrøm, who are set to play in the Europa League, arrived in Bergen after six league matches without a win under Hans Erik Ødegaard, including four defeats and two draws. Their previous league victory came on July 18. Next weekend, Vålerenga will visit Åråsen, giving Lillestrøm an immediate chance to build on the result.

The victory contrasted sharply with the teams’ previous meeting in Bergen in autumn 2024, when Lillestrøm effectively left as a relegated side after Niklas Castro scored a stoppage-time penalty. Gulbrandsen called this match “a mature football match” at halftime. He had taken a blow to the shin, while teammate Espen Garnås went off injured after only four minutes.

A mature football match.

· Fredrik GulbrandsenThe Lillestrøm striker’s halftime description of the team’s performance.
About this summary

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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