Madala saw off Vidar 3-2 in the first round of the Norwegian Cup on Friday evening at Madla Handball Stadium. The hosts took control through S. Haughom, who scored twice, before Vidar pushed back in the second half. The result sends Madala through to the next stage of the competition.
Haughom opened the scoring in the twenty-sixth minute and doubled the advantage just after the break. That gave Madala a comfortable cushion, and by then the visitors were struggling to find rhythm. Dessingue pulled one back for Vidar in the seventy-fifth, but Ekeland restored the two-goal lead six minutes later before Mairah's late strike made things nervous.
Madala dominated possession at 53 per cent and registered 160 attacks compared to Vidar's 128. The hosts had eight shots on target against four for the visitors, though Vidar managed to convert two of theirs. Corners told a similar story — nine to three — and Vidar's eighteen goal kicks suggested they spent more time defending than attacking.
Both sides picked up three yellow cards, but neither was sent off. Vidar's recent form has been uneven, with four losses in their last five matches before this cup defeat. Madala's record is less impressive on paper, but they showed enough composure to see out the result despite the late pressure.
The 3-2 scoreline reflects a match that was comfortable for Madala until the final quarter. They held their nerve when Vidar pushed forward, and that experience will matter more than anything in the return fixture.