Berum secured a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Mjøndalen in the first round of the Norwegian Cup on Saturday at Sandvika stadium. The hosts controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, despite Mjøndalen enjoying the greater share of possession. L. Bransdal opened the scoring after just three minutes, catching the visitors unprepared. And here's the thing, it set the tone for a match Berum would never relinquish.
Five minutes later, the home side doubled their advantage, though the goal came through V.C. Kaba rather than a repeat of the opener. K. Coric added a third before the interval, capitalising on a defensive error. Mjøndalen appeared unsettled, their usual rhythm disrupted by Berum's pressing. To be fair, the visitors had more possession but struggled to convert it into meaningful attacks.
A missed penalty at the half-hour mark might have given Mjøndalen hope, but it came too late to shift momentum. V.C. Kaba completed his brace in the fifty-fourth minute, putting the result beyond doubt. The goal difference tells only part of the story. By then, the match had settled into a familiar pattern of home dominance.
Statistics reveal the disconnect. Mjøndalen registered 58 attacks compared to Berum's 32, yet the visitors managed only three shots on target. Berum's six shots on target yielded four goals, while Mjøndalen's efforts found the net zero times. Possession sat at 61-39 in favour of the away side, but it meant little beyond the midfield.
The result lifts Berum into the next round with confidence. Mjøndalen's cup campaign ends before it truly begins, a stark contrast to their recent form which showed occasional resilience. The gap between the teams was evident in the yellow cards as well — three for the visitors against one for the hosts. Cup football has its own rules, and Berum understood them first.