At a sold-out Brann Stadion, the home team won 2-0 against Astana on Thursday evening. There is now one game remaining against the same opponent that will decide whether Brann enters the series play in the Serieligaen. Brann coach Eirik Horneland is not sure if the result will hold up completely. – I am as anxious as I had been after a 0-0 result. I feel far from comfortable with this, he says. Nevertheless, he is well satisfied after today’s match and says his players did a great job. Brann coach Eirik Horneland was satisfied after the match against Astana. Photo: Paul S. Amundsen / NTB – But I’m not sure if it will last, he says. Fire captain Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen calls the match a “giant match” and is looking forward to the trip to Kazakhstan. – We have a good starting point. It is a long journey, but we are very much looking forward to embarking on this task, he says. Horn Myhre lit up in gray weather The meteorologists had announced a delay until the start of the match after an otherwise rainy day in Bergen. The rain continued to pour down as the referee started the match. But after twelve minutes, Felix Horn Myhre appeared like a sun for the Brann supporters. Aune Heggebø lobbed the ball to Horn Myhre who from five meters fought his way to a finish. Brann has secured a good starting point before the away game in Almaty in Kazakhstan. Photo: NTB The first attempt was saved by Astana’s goalkeeper, but on the second attempt Horn Myhre placed the ball safely in the net. Gradually in the half the rain calmed down. Brann had control of the game in the first half, without creating anything significant other than the one goal. Doubled the lead after the break In the second half, Brann created many chances, but struggled to convert the chances into goals. After 57 minutes, Bård Finne and Mads Sande were replaced by Heggebø and Sander Kartum. Bård Finne doubled the lead for the red shirts. Photo: Paul S. Amundsen / NTB Barely ten minutes later, Sande came along the right wing. He handed in to Finne, who took his time. He set up the ball and placed it to the right of the goal, thus securing a 2–0 victory for Brann. Ten hour journey The match on Thursday evening was the first of two matches in the qualification for the Serie Liga. Serieliga is the third and lowest level for European tournaments. The Champions League and the Europa League are ranked higher. After Thursday’s victory, the Bergens have secured a good starting point before the second leg, which will be played in Almaty in Kazakhstan on Thursday 29 August at 16.00 Norwegian time. Astana is usually based in the city of the same name, but due to renovations on the home ground, they will play in Almaty. The city is over 5,000 kilometers away from Bergen and it takes about ten hours to get there by plane. If the Bergens win overall, Brann will advance to the series (previously group stage) in the Serieligaen. They will then be secured approximately NOK 37 million. It was worse for Molde, who are playing for a place in the Europa League – the level above the Serie A League. The Moldens took on Swedish Elfsborg at home, but lost 0–1 after an early goal from Ahmed Qasem. The second leg will also be played there next Thursday. Published 22.08.2024, at 21.03 Updated 22.08.2024, at 23.25
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Brann takes the lead in qualifying for the Series League with a 2–0 victory over Astana – news Vestland
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