Ebrima Sohna and Sandefjord Football could not get any better opening of this year’s Norwegian Tippeliga season as they crushed Tijan Jaiteh’s Brann Bergen 3-1 at the Komplett.no Arena (Sandefjord’s home Stadium) on Monday.

Erik Mjelde started the rout after only 19 minutes before Senegalese striker Malick Mane grabbed a second half brace with the visitor’s scoring a consolation from the penalty spot in the 86th minute. Sandefjord was the better side in the whole encounter and could have score more goals with Brann creating their first opportunity after 80 minutes.

The game was build up as a Gambian derby involving midfielders Ebrima Sohna and Tijan Jaiteh but as Sohna played the whole game for Sandefjord, Tijan Jaiteh was only left on the bench for Brann by Coach Steinar Nilsen. On the pitch it even looked like Brann were outnumbered. But it was simply a matter of effort and attitude and the Tippeliga-hopefuls were the better side in the match on Monday evening. Sandefjord played with great enthusiasm and had the famous "killer-instinct", but 3-1 - without Brann having a single shot on goal for the first 80 minutes is simply stunning. Brann hardly created any scoring chances until Jan Gunnar Solli was fouled inside the penalty area at the end of the game.

Icelandic Olafur Örn Bjarnason took the penalty and scored, but at that time the Sandefjord supporters were already celebrating their well deserved three points. And former Brann-player Erik Mjelde who opened the scorings explained why Sandefjord appeared so superior:

“Our two central midfielders Ebrima Sohna and Marciano are tough and win the ball. “When Brann move too slow, we create scoring chances easily. Brann tried to attack us, which gave us plenty of space for counter attacks. Also, when they play the long ball against our tall defense, then the match is played on our terms” Erik Mjelde said after the game.