Spjelkavik hosted Hødd in the first round of the NM Cup on Friday evening, and the visitors took all three points with a 2-1 victory. The match at Spjelkavik Stadium saw both sides trade blows before Hødd held firm despite a late red card for the hosts.
J. Berisha opened the scoring in the 16th minute, finding the net after Spjelkavik pressed forward. The home side looked confident, and to be fair, they deserved to lead at that stage. Hødd responded with purpose, and S. Skulstad equalised in the 32nd minute.
The momentum shifted again when Berisha restored Spjelkavik's advantage in the 49th minute. By then, the game had found its rhythm, and both teams were playing with intention. Hødd refused to break, and a late goal turned the tie on its head.
Spjelkavik received a red card in the 90th minute plus five, leaving the hosts with ten men for the closing moments. The dismissal came after a frantic finish, and Hødd managed to see out the remainder without further incident.
Statistically, Hødd held a slight edge with 53 per cent possession compared to 47 for Spjelkavik. The visitors registered two shots on target while the hosts managed one. Both sides picked up two yellow cards each.
The result means Hødd progress in the cup, while Spjelkavik's campaign ends. The away side showed character after going behind, and the win adds weight to their recent form.