Ruthless Rosenborg Humiliate Hønefoss 8-0 to Tighten Top-Three Grip in Toppserien Rout

Trondheim, Norway — On a blustery Trondheim afternoon, Rosenborg W delivered a performance that was as relentless as the October wind swirling through Koteng Arena, dispatching Hønefoss W by a bruising 8-0 margin. With their most commanding victory of the Toppserien campaign, third-placed Rosenborg not only asserted their credentials as title contenders but also sent a cautionary message to the rest of the league as the season careens toward its dramatic conclusion.

A Statement Made Early—and Often

From the opening whistle, Rosenborg played with the urgency of a side with everything to play for and nothing to fear. Their movement was crisp, their passing incisive, and the finishing clinical—a far cry from the goalless draw that characterized their previous encounter with Hønefoss just two months prior.

The breakthrough arrived as early as the sixth minute, when , Rosenborg’s talismanic forward, found space on the right edge of the Hønefoss penalty area and rifled a low shot past keeper Thea Brevik. The goal set the tone for the afternoon, and before the quarter-hour mark, doubled the lead in the 13th minute, capping off a flowing team move with a deft touch finish.

By halftime, Rosenborg had put the match beyond doubt. Quick-fire strikes in the 27th and 34th minutes—first from a thunderous header by , then a tap-in after a goalmouth scramble by —saw the hosts enter the dressing room with a 4-0 advantage. For Hønefoss, who had shown glimpses of resilience in previous weeks but arrived in Trondheim on the back of four losses in five, the deluge was unrelenting.

Relentless Second Half Barrage

Where many sides with a comfortable lead might have lifted the foot off the pedal, Rosenborg’s appetite only sharpened. The fifth goal, coming in the 51st through a pinpoint free kick by , was met with as much celebration as the first. And by the hour mark, the scoreboard had ticked to 6-0 after a blistering counterattack split the Hønefoss backline and coolly finished.

To their credit, Hønefoss avoided further disciplinary woes. But a red card was nearly flashed to defender for a desperate sliding challenge in the 64th, one of several moments that underscored the visitors’ frustration. By then, the contest had devolved from competition to exhibition.

The final quarter of an hour saw Rosenborg’s substitutes get in on the act. slotted home a rebound in the 74th, before the rout was completed in the closing seconds— bundling in from close range to make it eight, a number that punctuated a day of unmitigated dominance.

Context: Redemption and Ruthlessness

This avalanche of goals comes after a period of narrow wins and lingering disappointment in Europe—a humbling 0-4 defeat at PSV Eindhoven still fresh enough to sting. The response since, however, has been emphatic: Rosenborg are now unbeaten in their last three league matches, racking up a 7-1 aggregate in two consecutive Toppserien fixtures.

With 49 points from 22 games (15 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses), Rosenborg remain third in a tightly bunched top tier. While the title may still lie tantalizingly out of reach, automatic Champions League qualification and bragging rights as Norway’s premier side are prizes well within their grasp.

Hønefoss, by contrast, are marooned in seventh, their 21 points from 22 matches the mark of a side struggling to find balance. Their unexpected win at Kolbotn earlier this month suggested a team rediscovering resolve, but Sunday’s capitulation—especially after having held Rosenborg to a stalemate in August—will ask serious questions about their defensive organization and mental fortitude.

Implications and Looking Ahead

For Rosenborg, this was more than three points. It was a statement of intent, a reminder that their blend of technical quality and physical prowess can be devastating when unleashed. The win consolidates their third place, but, more importantly, injects confidence ahead of a crucial run-in.

Coach hailed the performance in his post-match remarks, noting, “We demanded a response, and the players delivered with hunger and togetherness. We have everything to play for.”

Hønefoss, meanwhile, must now regroup with two tough fixtures looming. Their slide in form—five losses in six—and a leaky defense risk dragging them further into the lower reaches of the table, and only a rapid recalibration will suffice if they are to salvage pride from a bruising campaign.

As the lights dimmed at Koteng Arena, the significance of the result was unambiguous: Rosenborg’s roar has never sounded louder, and for Hønefoss, the echoes of an afternoon to forget may linger long into winter.