UEFA Cup, first round, first leg (15/9) ================================ Brann - Werder Bremen (Germany) 2-0 (1-0) Brann stadion Att: 5281 1-0 Arne Vidar Moen (28) 2-0 Kjetil Løvvik (47) Referee: Robert A. Boggy, Italy. Yellow card: Frank Rost, Håvard Flo, Jens Todt, Werder Bremen. - A very deserved home win for Brann, against an extrremely disappointing German side. No wonder Werder are bottom of the table in Bundesliga. Goalscorers were Moen, who extended a long freekick with his head, and Løvvik from close range, after good work by Guntveit. In fact, Brann could, and should easily have scored more goals, as they went clear on several occations. Aston Villa (England)- Strømsgodset 3-2 (0-2) Villa Park Att: 28 893 0-1 Anders Michelsen (22) 0-2 Christer George (23) 1-2 Gary Charles (83) 2-2 Darius Vassel (89) 3-2 Vassel (90) Referee: Hartmut Stampe, Germany. Yellow card: Alan Thompson, Ian Taylor, Aston Villa, Morten Kihle, Christer George, Kenneth Karlsen, Strømsgodset. Red card: Kenneth Karlsen, Strømsgodset (68). - SIF were 8 minutes from a big surprise, as they lead 2-0 against the English league leaders Aston Villa. However, three late goals for the home teams saved them from an embarassing defeat. Michelsen and George stunned Villa in the first half, and the heroics of Hansen in goal kept the score down in the second, as the home team piled on the pressure. When Karlsen was sent off for his second yellow card, the pressure mounted even more, although the English side were always very predictable when going forward. In the end, a 2-3 defeat is not a bad result at all, and at least the return leg will be very interesting. UEFA Cup, first round, second leg (29/9) ================================= Strømsgodset - Aston Villa (England) 0-3 (0-2), agg. 2-6 Marienlyst stadion Att: 4835 0-1 Stan Collymore (10) 0-2 Collymore (23) 0-3 Collymore (64) Referee: Dieter Schoch, Switzerland. Yellow card: Alan Thompson, Ian Taylor, Aston Villa. - As expected, the Norwegians couldn't keep up with the English league leaders the second time around. Three goals by Collymore, in his first game from the start this season, was more than enough to send Villa through. SIF were surprisingly defensive in the first half, and when they finally went out of their shell in the second, it was all too late. Villa were not impressive, but did exactly what was asked by a top international side, and put up a very professional performance. Werder Bremen (Germany) - Brann 4-0 (1-0) aet, agg. 4-2 Weserstadion Att: 17 364 1-0 Raphael Wicky (32) 2-0 André Wiedener (70) 3-0 Jurij Maksimov (107) 4-0 Håvard Flo (109) Referee: Metin Tokat, Turkey. Yellow card: André Wiedener, Adrian Kunz, Werder Bremen, Geirmund Brendesæther, Raymond Kvisvik, Brann. - The second round was in sight for Brann after their fine home win in the first leg. However, it wasn't to be, as Werder equalized the advantage in normal time, before scoring two moe goals in extra time. Brann had their chances to score, and even missed a penalty when it was all over at 4-0, but the Germans proved too strong in the end.