The winning goal came thanks to two players who earlier this week were brought into Norway’s squad for the European Football Championship in England this summer. 21-year-old Anna Jøsendal hit a fine post, and in the box Synne Skinnes Hansen appeared and sent the ball into the net to cheers from the crowd.

– That’s incoming bullshit. It’s great to score in Lerkendal. “There was excitement, and I had to run for a bit in there,” Hansen said of the winner to NRK after the game.

Brann created a good chance late on in the finish, but had to leave the pitch disillusioned with defeat for the first time this season.

– They were better than us in today’s final phase. There weren’t many chances in the game, but they were rougher on the one they got. We can’t just win. “We congratulate Rosenborg on the win today, all credit to them for that,” said Brann coach Alexander Straus.

Team Bergen are still top of the table with 37 points after 14 games played. Vålerenga and Rosenborg have 32 points, but the Oslo club have one game left to face the rivals.

top table

With RBK’s win over Brann, the men of Bergen couldn’t put more points in the battle for the table lead. Vlerenga beat Røa 4-0 the previous Sunday and have a better goal difference than the Bergen side. Should the Oslo team win their last five matches in the bottom series, Brann will end up behind Vålerenga in the table with a fresh loss.

However, Vålerenga will have an uphill task next weekend, when another top match at Toppserien will be played. Then Rosenborg faced Vlerenga on the team’s original home court.

After 18 rounds of draw, the top four teams in Toppserien will advance to the playoffs. There, the first place of the base series will start with six points, while three consecutive teams start with four, two and zero points respectively.

Then more and more decisive top matches will be played, which could result in a new attendance record in Norwegian women’s football.

Before Brann broke a new record of 10,582 spectators in the 1-0 win over VIF at Brann Stadium last weekend, the record was 8856 from the 2006 NM final between Røa and Asker at Bislett Stadion. The record audience at Toppserien was 3451 just over a week ago.

Decent leadership

In front of a record-breaking crowd at Lerkendal, RBK was most alert from the start on Sunday. It is not inappropriate that the people of Trendelag take the lead. After eight minutes, Cesilie Andreassen sent a scary shot from outside from 16 meters that hit the crossbar.

Jøsendal continued to attack RBK, who were still slightly behind in the round against the league leaders.

Just before half-time, Hansen came close to scoring twice when Rosenborg hit back quickly. Emilie Joramo won the ball and played to Andreassen, who passed it to Hansen on the right flank. The 26-year-old’s shot bounced, but RBK could still advance until the break with a 1-0 advantage.

Rosenborg captain Mali Næss admitted to NRK during the break that the home crowd contributed to a good start to the match.

– This is very fun. You only know it gives them extra gear when they cheer, so thanks to them, Næss said.

kept away

During the break, it became clear that Joramo extended his contract with RBK despite great interest from foreign clubs. The 20-year-old has extended his contract for the next two seasons.

Back on the pitch, Rosenborg was played low by Brann from the start of the second half. It didn’t immediately result in a big chance, but after an hour of play, Bergen’s side called for a penalty kick.

Brann’s corner was sent into the box, where it bounced off the arm of Joramo, who cleared the ball. Brann’s players protested against referee Emilie Torkelsen, but were not heard.

After more than 70 minutes, Branns Berglind Thorvaldsdottir had a good chance. Iceland’s national team players were allowed to stand alone at the back post after a set piece, but a close-range finish went far beyond.

The Reds had some good chances in the final ten minutes of the game but never tested RBK goalkeeper Lene Christensen.

Next weekend, Brann gets the chance to get back to winning ways in an away game against city rivals Arna-Bjørnar.