Vålerenga stuns Brann with away victory in Eliteserien thriller

SK Brann and Vålerenga IF served up an absorbing contest at a packed Brann Stadion, with the visitors ultimately leaving Bergen with all three points. The home side started brightly enough, but it was Vålerenga who struck first when Harald Bjørdal broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. The goal seemed to settle the away team, who controlled large spells of the first half and doubled their advantage before the break through Chriss Lange's finish in the 41st minute.

Vålerenga's dominance continued as the first half drew to a close, with Lange adding another dimension to their attacking play despite picking up a booking for his troubles. Just before half-time, the visitors made it three when Liam Haren swept home to give them a commanding 0-3 lead at the interval. SK Brann emerged with renewed purpose after the restart, knowing they faced a mountain to climb against a disciplined Vålerenga outfit.

The complexion of the match shifted dramatically in the 57th minute when Ivar Näsberg received his marching orders, reducing Vålerenga to ten men. That numerical advantage energised the home crowd and Brann capitalized when Nicolas Castro converted from the penalty spot in the 65th minute, setting up a tense finale. Despite having an extra player, the hosts could only manage one goal as Vålerenga's ten-man defence held firm to secure SK Brann 2-3 Vålerenga IF.

The result handed Vålerenga a valuable away victory and served as a reality check for SK Brann, who will need to regroup quickly. For the visitors, this performance demonstrated their resilience and quality, suggesting they remain genuine contenders in the Eliteserien title race. Brann will reflect on what might have been had they started more sharply, while Vålerenga's ability to win despite going down to ten men underlined their character.