Six-game streak comes to an end

Brann started well in the warm weather at Sør arena, and were awarded a corner kick after only 30 seconds. But as the first half went on, the play started to even out, and eventually the home side took over.

After 20 minutes, Start were awarded a penalty kick when Brann-goalkeeper Håkon Opdal fouled Espen Hoff inside the penalty area. Opdal went for the ball but his arm struck Hoff's leg as well and the referee had no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Mads Stokkelien took the penalty and put the ball easily in the net. Only two minutes later Start doubled their lead after a great attack and a good finih from Christian Bolaños.

Brann were not able to hit back against a defensively solid Start. The home side kept a 2-0 lead going into the halftime. Brann created barely anything, had little movement off the ball and lacked precision in their attacking game.

Brann opened best in the second half and dominated posession, but could still not create chances. After a good period from Brann, Christian Bolaños struck again halfway through the second half, scoring after a great solo-performance.

Erik Huseklepp had Brann's biggest chance five minutes later , but the finish from a difficult angle hit the upright. Brann then substituted Eirik Bakke for former Start-hero David Nielsen, but the tactical changes made at best little difference.

This was an evening when hardly anything was working for Brann. The goals against came at the worst moments, and in a bad way. Offensively Brann's timing was off and neither the movement off the ball og the passing game was like in the last few previous matches.

Brann fought hard to get a consilation-goal, and were successful three minutes before full time when Erik Huseklepp was fouled inside the penalty area by substitute Olafemi Oladapo. Huseklepp took the penalty kick himself and scored safely. But the goal came too late and the match ended with a well deserved 3-1 victory for Start - Branns first loss in six matches.

MATCH FACTS:
Sør arena, 9 250 attendance
Start - Brann 3-1 (2-0)
Goals: 1-0 Mads Stokkelien (21. penalty), 2-0 Christian Bolaños (23.), 3-0 Christian Bolaños (65), 3-1 Erik Huseklepp (87. penalty).
Yellow cards: Espen Børufsen, Hunter Freeman, Start.
Red cards: -
Referee: Anders Johansen.

Start (4-4-2): Kenneth Høie - Hunter Freeman, Clarence Goodson, Avni Pepa, Rolf Daniel Vikstøl - Christian Bolaños, Solomon James Owello, Geir Ludvig Fevang (Oladapo Olufemi from 79.), Espen Børufsen (Ole Martin Årst from 75.) - Espen Hoff, Mads Stokkelien.

Brann (4-2-3-1: Håkon Opdal - Birkir Már Sævarsson, Rodolph Austin, Zsolt Korcsmár, Hassan El Fakiri - Jan Gunnar Solli, Erik Mjelde (Tijan Jaiteh from 71.) - Diego Guastavino, Petter Vaagan Moen, Erik Huseklepp - Eirik Bakke (David Nielsen from 71.).