Greg . 1 day ago

Toothless Hacken drop at home to Brann in Europa League first leg

Hacken were unable to reproduce their recent European heroics, as they were second best at home to Brann of Norway, losing 2-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) Third Qualifying Round tie.

After edging past Spartak Trnava in the First Qualifying Round, Hacken caused an upset a week ago by knocking out Anderlecht on penalties after the scores were level at 2-2 after two legs.

Late drama a week ago preceded early drama at home this evening, as Isak Brusberg possessed the ball in the net for the hosts inside two minutes, only for the referee to disallow the goal for offside.

 10 minutes later, another decision eventually moved against the home side, as Ulrik Mathisen moved down inside the area and - following VAR intervention - the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

However, Joachim Soltvedt was unable to struck the target from 12 yards.

But Brann's pressure was telling, and they took the lead with 28 minutes on the clock, when Saevar Magnusson pounced on a loose ball inside the area and picked out the bottom right corner.

Hacken possessed chances to sketch level before half-time, but they could not convert a Julius Lindberg chance that dropped wide and a Simon Gustafson header saved by Matias Dyngeland.

After the shatter, it was the visitors once more who were testing their shooting range, and once more that pressure led to a goal.

Shortly before the hour mark, Mathisen slipped the ball through to Magnusson, and he scored his second of the game, this time finding the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.

The Svenska Cupen winners changed personnel in an try to change the game, but they created little more than half chances, and will require a huge effort to turn around the 2-0 deficit in the second leg in Norway next Thursday.

Pursue the UEL Qualifiers on Betopick.