With Brann’s place in the top 24 far from assured, a positive result was needed to boost their hopes of progression. However, they fell behind to Midtjylland after just four minutes when Martin Erlić headed in Philip Billing’s cross from close range.
To their credit, the home side responded positively and equalised in the 19th minute as Denzel De Roeve delivered a precise corner into the penalty area, where Noah Holm rose highest to head into the bottom-left corner.
Freyr Alexandersson’s side continued to pile on the pressure as they aimed to take the lead, but their attacking intent amounted to very little. Having failed to take advantage of that dominant spell, the hosts were punished as Júnior Brumado brought the ball down and lashed it into the roof of the net from close range.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half were end-to-end, with both sides having chances, but ultimately failing to force either goalkeeper into a save. Nonetheless, Brann were handed a lifeline in the 68th minute, being awarded a penalty for a handball by Cho Gue-sung, which Emil Kornvig converted by smashing the ball down the centre of the goal.
Remarkably, Bergens stolthet seemed to fall asleep after equalising, going behind yet again just two minutes later, with centre-back Erlić finding the back of the net for a second time when the ball dropped to him from a corner.
It looked as if the hosts were going to fall to a crushing defeat, but they were awarded another penalty, which Joachim Soltvedt rifled into the top-right corner in the 100th minute to steal a point for Brann.
They will now face SK Sturm Graz in their final league phase match in the knowledge that a positive result will likely be enough to finish inside the top 24. Meanwhile, fourth–placed Midtjylland will host GNK Dinamo Zagreb, knowing a point should be enough to guarantee direct passage to the last 16.
