Brann - Strømsgodset 5-1 (2-0) Brann stadion Att: 9501 1-0 Geir Hasund (9) 2-0 Trond Egil Soltvedt (15) 3-0 Eivind Karlsbakk (48) 4-0 Per-Ove Ludvigsen (69) 4-1 Frode Johannessen (71) 5-1 Pål Skistad (o.g. 90) Yellow card: Frode Johannessen, Stømsgodset, Magnus Johansson, Brann. - This game was shown live on Norwegian national TV. After surviving an early scare, when Strømsgodset missed a penalty in the 6th minute, Brann went on to completely dominate the game. Their play was led by Norwegian U21 international Claus Lundekvam in midfield. He along with fellow youngsters Noreboe and Karlsbakk were dominant, showing surprisingly high class in their premier division debut. Brann played without attacker Frank Strandli (child birth), but he will be back to play against his former side next week. The less said about Strømsgodset, the better. They were simply crap. Based on this performance only, they will have a hard time surviving. Bodø/Glimt - Kongsvinger 1-1 (1-1) Aspmyra stadion Att: 5214 0-1 Trym Bergman (29) 1-1 Aasmund Bjørkan (34) - According to the reports this game was even with the first half belonging to B/G and the second to the visitors. The home side had two shots at the posts which could have saved their day, whereas KIL had an effort saved on the goalline. None of the possible national players (Berg, Staurvik and Riisnæs, Frigård) played particularly well. Rosenborg - Start 2-0 (2-0) Lerkendal stadion Att: 11 500 1-0 Kent Bergersen (27) 2-0 Harald Brattbakk (39) Yellow card: Øyvind Leonhardsen, Bjørn Otto Bragstad, Rosenborg, Tore Løvland, Erik Mykland, Jørgen Hammersland, Start. Red card: Helge Bjønsaas, Start. - In the big game of the day champions RBK and title favourites Start met on a wet Lerkendal. The game could only go ahead after hundred volunteers cleared the field for SNOW in the afternoon. The conditions didn't suit Start's technical style, and when in addition they had forgotten how to fight, RBK went on to win comfortably. The referee also played his part by sending off Bjønsaas for a professional foul, when a yellow card would have been more than sufficent. After that, Rosenborg dominated and Brattbakk gave them a two-goal lead, after Bergesen had gotten the first. This win came as a surprise to me, since Start have been hyped as having a very strong team this year. I know RBK are the champions, but they have lost a few players, and I thought the newcomers needed a few games to settle. Guess I was wrong :-) Tromsø - Sogndal 0-0 Alfheim stadion Att: 6805 Yellow card: Kazimierez Sokolowski, Tromsø. - The result tells the whole story. Two boring sides, with Sogndal the most boring, obviously playing for a goalless draw from the start (although they didn't admit it :-) ). VIF Fotball - Lillestrøm 0-0 Ullevaal stadion Att: 12 094 Yellow card: Espen Haug, VIF Fotball, Dennis Schiller, Lillestrøm. - The surprise of the day. I was there among with more than 12 000 others, which actually was the biggest crowd on the day. When was the last time Oslo hosted the most attracted match ? The game itself was not very good. LSK had the first 20 minutes, and went very close when Bergdølmo missed a sitter from 5 metres, after a rebound from the home keeper. Gradually VIF worked themselves into the game as LSK faded. The second half belonged to the home side, although as in the first half the opportunities were few and far between. Rune Gjertsen went closest when he beat the offside trap, but alone with LSK-keeper, he shot straight at him. LSK though they should have had a penalty when Solbakken was brought down/fell inside the area. I wouldn't have argued strongly if the referee had blown his whistle, but on the other hand Solbakken went down quite easily. It was nice to see both sides bringing a lot a supporters, and large flags in the colours of the two teams. It sort of reminded me of more prominent football countries on the continernt :-) All in all, VIF surprised me (and the experts) whilst LSK were disappointing, especially in the second half. Viking - Hamarkameratene 1-0 (1-0) Stavanger stadion Att: 10 168 1-0 Egil Østenstad (17) Yellow card: Rune Medalen, Viking, Ronny Pedersen, Jon Erik Ødegaard, Hamarkameratene. - The expected home win, but not the expected match, as Hamkam dominated for long spells in both halves. They were unfortunately unable to put the ball in the back of the net. Viking played well below par, one of the few good moves being the one leading up to the goal, when Storvik sent Østenstad through. He rounded the keeper, and placed the ball in the empty net.