Bodo/Glimt 3 Brann 3 (Bodo won 4-2 on penalties)
Oslo was packed with thousands of runners taking part in the regular city relay and combine that with an influx of football fans from Bergen and Bodo/Glimt and you had a very vibrant atmosphere.
Which was also very much present at the Ullevaal Stadium when Brann met Bodo/Glimt in the Norwegian Cup Final.
This year the final was moved from its usual time in (chilly) November to a much more amenable May.
History told that Brann had a record of 7 previous wins while Bodo, despite their fame in Europe, could only count two prior victories, and the last of those was back in 1993.
If you assess the relative strength of the two sides it is evident that the team from the North comprised a collective ‘valuation’ of some three times their opponents, hence Bodo were clear favourites.
Although once inside the stadium it was clear it was the fans in red (Brann) who outnumbered those in yellow (Bodo). As usual in such a final the respective ‘ultras’ groups were assembled at either end and both excelled with their tifos and flares.
The game itself, at least for most of the first 90 minutes, was a tale of errors. Initially when Brann defender Pedersen inadvertently diverted Blomberg’s cross into his own net to give Bodo an early lead.
Backed by their noisy fans Brann set about recovering, though they had to be aware of their rivals’ threats on the transition, usually led by Jens Petter Hauge. But they did level & it came from Myhre, after a Soltvedt flick, though goalie Haikin should have dealt with the near post shot.
Amazingly, within another minute, Brann were ahead and this time it was even worse for Haikin after he miskicked a clearance leaving Iceland’s Ingason an easy finish into an empty goal. (Happily for the goalie he would have a later chance to redeem himself)
Though Hauge might have taken a opportunity at the end of the first half, the period finished with the underdogs in front, 2-1.
The second 45 was to be expected, with Bodo pressing forward although renowned striker Hogh never really had many chances and he was eventually replaced. The very watchable encounter often flowed from end to end and just when it seemed Brann would hold on a corner was converted by Brynhildsen to make it 2-2 and hence we went into an extra half hour.
That period was mostly dominated by Bodo and they duly took the lead when Hauge set up sub Helmersen. Again it looked like that was the decider, however Brann pressed late on and were given a spot kick when Myhre was brought down in the area.
Soltvedt drove in the penalty right in front of his own joyous fans, to make it 3-3.
Then we had the lottery of a penalty shootout. Sadly for Soltvedt his effort was saved by Haikin and though Myhre neatly chipped his in, it was, unfortunately, Markus Haaland (no relation) who also failed to get past the now redeemed Israeli/Russian keeper.
Since Bodo delivered all theirs, mostly hard and low in the corner, it was the fans in yellow who could celebrate seeing their team win their first FA Cup in over thirty years.
There was no doubt it had been an eventful and enjoyable final with plenty of twists and turns, played in a vibrant atmosphere.
Back in central Oslo the runners were still finishing off their exertions as some of the fans from Bergen set about drowning their sorrows.
Analysis from Oslo – John Bethell
