| Metric | Kristiansund BK | Sarpsborg 08 |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 69% | 31% |
| Shots | 6 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 2 |
| Shots off target | 2 | 2 |
| Corners | 4 | 8 |
| Fouls | 15 | 17 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 5 | 1 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 2 | 2 |
The first half offered little in the way of goals, but it did produce the game's biggest flashpoint. Sarpsborg defender Claus Babo Niyukuri was cautioned in the 27th minute, and Kristiansund then thought they had broken the deadlock before a VAR review overturned the home goal in the 32nd minute. That decision kept the score at 0-0 and set the tone for a night where margins were slim.
Sarpsborg made two changes at the break, sending on Eirik Wichne for Niyukuri and Aimar Sher for Noa Williams. The away side were then booked again through Bjorn Utvik in the 57th minute as the game became more scrappy than fluent.
Kristiansund responded with a run of substitutions after the hour. Niklas Odegard replaced Heine Gikling Bruseth, while Frederik Flex and Adrian Kurd Ronning were also introduced later in the half. Isah Ubandoma and Julius Mar Juliusson both went into the book during that spell, underlining the physical edge to the contest.
Further late changes from both benches could not alter the result. In the end, the stats will show a goalless draw, and the match summary is simple enough: plenty of disruption, but no finishing touch.