Brann secured their first-ever UEFA Europa League (UEL) main draw by beating Utrecht 1-0 in Bergen, leaving the visitors winless in 12 European group stage/league phase away games.
Both sides were looking to bounce back from narrow defeats on matchday one, and the hosts were on the front foot straight away on their home debut in the main draw of the UEL.
While Utrecht were pinned back early, they withstood that pressure and soon asserted themselves as the more dangerous attacking side. David Min was the first to go close to a goal when he met Miguel Rodriguez’s cross at the near post, but he angled his effort wide of the far post in a scare for the home crowd.
Adrian Blake then drove a low effort straight at the Brann goalkeeper, before the hosts regained their composure and ended the first half well.
Their first real sight of goal resulted in the deadlock breaker just four minutes before the interval, with Saevar Magnusson – who also scored their only goal on matchday one – turning home at the near post via a deflection from Felix Myhre’s cutback.
Only one of Utrecht’s previous six games across all competitions had seen both teams score, and that was a trend they needed to arrest here to get back in the game.
They showed good intent following the restart, with the dangerous Blake feeding left-back Souffian El Karouani inside the box, and he turned brilliantly to force Mathias Dyngeland into a smart save at the near post.
Sebastien Haller was introduced from the bench in a bid to aid the visitors’ comeback hopes, but Brann’s rearguard refused to buckle, standing firm to neutralise the visitors’ attack.
The contest became very scrappy amid multiple stoppages for substitutions beyond the hour mark, and that suited Brann perfectly as they secured a fourth successive home win.
It marks just a third win in 11 meetings with Dutch sides, while Utrecht are left licking their wounds after a second successive 1-0 defeat in the UEL, leaving them winless in five matches across all competitions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Felix Myhre (Brann)
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