Sandefjord saw off Kristiansund IF 34:28 in the NM Cup on 11 October 2026, a result that overturned expectations of an away victory. The hosts had been inconsistent earlier in the campaign, but their recent run of four wins from five matches suggested a side finding its rhythm at home. Kristiansund came in with solid away form — three wins and a draw from their last five — yet could not impose their game on a Sandefjord outfit that refused to go away.
And here's the thing about handball: momentum shifts faster than in football, and today Sandefjord seized it early. They found a rhythm at the start, scored through quick transitions, and by then Kristiansund were chasing the game rather than dictating it. The visitors tried to respond, but when you fall behind early in this sport you are often left flat-footed.
There were no dramatic moments — no red cards, no controversial decisions — just a steady accumulation of goals by the home side. Kristiansund kept fighting, particularly in the second half, but the gap had grown too wide. They extended their unbeaten run to three matches overall, but this one ended differently from their recent draws and narrow wins.
The statistics tell part of the story: 34 goals to 28, with Sandefjord converting their chances more efficiently. Many shots in handball do not necessarily mean many goals, and today the home side made them count. Kristiansund had periods where they deserved more, but the high line was picked apart at crucial moments.
For our predictions, we had backed the away side with 70 per cent confidence — a reasonable assessment given their recent results. But Sandefjord's home form had been improving steadily, and when a side plays at home with confidence, the away team is often left exposed. The prediction was wrong, and the match showed why: home advantage in handball is not just a number on a fixture list.
Sandefjord move into the upper half of the table with this victory, while Kristiansund remain mid-table with their unbeaten streak now at three games. The gap between them in the standings is small, but today the result felt decisive. Three goals may not seem like much in handball, but it was enough to separate two sides that had been running close together all season.
