Runnar beat Lillestrøm 38-20 in the NM Cup on Wednesday evening. The result settles any doubt about the visitors' standing after a run of heavy defeats earlier in the season. Lillestrøm had not lost by more than four goals in their previous five outings, but this was different.
The match was decided early. Runnar took control within the first ten minutes and never looked back. The Norwegian side scored ten goals in the opening quarter while Lillestrøm managed only six. By then the visitors had already switched to a back three and the home side could not find a response.
Lillestrøm's form had been fragile before this game. They lost 32-38 to Bekkelaget on Monday and 25-31 to Halden ten days earlier. Three defeats in five matches left their squad short of confidence. Runnar, meanwhile, came in with momentum after beating Follo 33-22 on the same day.
The statistics tell the full story. Runnar finished with 58 per cent possession and 24 shots on target. Lillestrøm managed 18 attempts but could only convert four. Expected goals favoured the visitors by a margin of 2.8 to 1.1. The numbers did not lie.
What the result means in practice is a clean sweep for Runnar in this round of the cup. They advance with a goal difference of +18, which will serve them well in any subsequent tie. Lillestrøm are left to reflect on a performance that lacked structure and intensity from the first whistle.
