Match snapshot
A brutal day for Rosenborg unfolded at Briskeby as HamKam dominated from the opening whistle. Early on, a well-worked move saw Kristian Lien fire home for HamKam after five minutes, giving the home side the lead and a chorus of support from the stands. The mood quickly soured for Rosenborg when a reckless mistake inside the box saw Mikkel Konradsen Ceide sent off, earning a straight red after a late challenge on Julian Gonstad denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Missed chances and a killer counter
Moments later, Rosenborg spurned a golden opportunity when Dino Islamovic failed to convert a gilt-edged chance, letting HamKam breathe after the miss. The visitors punished that miss in ruthless fashion as Ylldren Ibrahimaj burst through Rosenborg’s retreating defence and calmly slotted the second goal past the goalkeeper.
Halftime catastrophe
Just before the break, Anton Ekeroth’s strike extended HamKam’s lead to three, sending Briskeby into raptures while Rosenborg trudged off to the locker room to a chorus of jeers from the away end. TV2 commentator Endre Olav Osnes described the first half as a “complete catastrophe” as the home fans expressed their frustration with the visitors’ performance.
Second half: control in the home side’s hands
With a man advantage and a two-goal cushion, HamKam continued to command the tempo after the break. Rosenborg, beleaguered by the numerical disadvantage, found it difficult to mount sustained pressure as the hosts played with poise and patience, closing spaces and keeping the ball away from danger when necessary.
Further punishment and the final tally
HamKam added a fourth when a cross from Strand-Nilsen drifted in off captain Erlend Dahl Reitan for an own goal. The misfortune capped a thoroughly one-sided night, and the shot tally underscored HamKam’s dominance: 13 attempts on goal for HamKam to a handful for Rosenborg after the break.
What Rosenborg must do next
One result does not define a season, but this performance lays bare the work required. The following avenues deserve urgent attention: strengthen recruitment to avoid relying on a thin squad; reassess coaching strategies if results do not improve quickly, potentially exploring leadership changes if warranted; and instill a smarter, more disciplined approach to away games so Rosenborg can remain competitive even when reduced to ten men.
Conclusion
Rosenborg’s visit to Briskeby ended in a heavy defeat that will prompt tough questions in the dressing room. For HamKam, the night capped a show of clinical efficiency and tactical discipline that underlined their grip on the contest. If Rosenborg can translate this experience into measured improvement, there is still time to salvage the campaign; if not, calls for change will grow louder within Norwegian football.
