Toyosi Olusanya's last-minute leveller saw Saints rescue a draw and keep our UEFA Conference League hopes alive ahead of our Third Qualifying Round second leg in Bergen next week.
SK Brann arguably had the better of the game and got themselves in front with 15 minutes to go when Felix Myhre fired home. But substitute Olusanya fired home in the final minute of normal to leave it all to play for in Norway.
There were three changes to the side that defeated Hibernian 3-0 in the William Hill Premiership on Sunday. Oisin Smyth came in after his brace against the Hibees in place of Dennis Adeniran, while Jaden Brown and Mikael Mandron returned to the starting eleven for Scott Tanser and Olusanya. Captain Mark O'Hara remained out with thigh injury so Marcus Fraser took the armband.
The visitors looked slick in the early goings and Fraser was drawn into an early yellow card when he was booked on seven minutes for a late sliding challenge on Myhre. The away side started well and they had the first early opportunity when a ball over the top caught out Alex Gogic which allowed Bård Finne to get in behind the defender. He attempted to lob the ball over Ellery Balcombe but Saints 'keeper managed to gather.
The Saints goalkeeper was called in to action again on 22 minutes. He was out quickly to block Ole Blomberg's effort after a ball over the top and he had to get quickly back into position to push away Sander Kartum's follow up strike. SK Brann were continuing to threaten and Balcombe was forced to make another big save five minutes later to deny Myhre after a nice bit of play from the Norwegian side.
The Buddies should have taken the lead with three minutes of the half remaining with our only real chance of the first 45. Caolan Boyd-Munce swung in a beautiful free-kick from the left which met the head of Mikael Mandron, but he headed by the left-hand post.
There was just time at the end of the half for Balcombe to pull off another big save to keep it goalless as he got two big hands behind Kartum's strike. The Saints goalkeeper did well to deny the Brann midfielder again five minutes after the restart when he pushed the midfielder's low hit over.
Saints hadn't really got going after the break and the manager made a triple substitution a little after the hour mark. Tanser, Adeniran and Olusanya came on with Brown, Roland Idowu and Mandron making way. Seven minutes later, Alex Iacovitti and James Scott also made their way on to the pitch to replace Richard Taylor and Jonah Ayunga.
One of the substitutes came close to breaking the deadlock when Adeniran drove forward and had a go from 25 yards. It took a deflection which forced Brann goalkeeper Mathias Dyngeland to push over.
But two minutes later, SK Brann would take the lead, just seconds after an outstanding block from Gogic that denied Finne. From the resulting corner, Blomberg's low cross bounced up off Iacovitti and fell to the feet of Myhre who angled a low drive beyond Balcombe to break Saints' resistance.
But the Buddies showed their never die spirit and rescued a draw in the final minute of normal time. A Saints corner was headed clear but Tanser floated it back in where Scott was first on to it. He rolled across the face where Olusanya reacted quickest to prod home to the delight of the Paisley crowd. All to play for in Bergen next Thursday!
Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 SK Brann
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser (c), Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 70), Rooney, Smyth, Boyd-Munce, Idowu (Adeniran 63), Brown (Tanser 63), Ayunga (Scott 70), Mandron (Olusanya 63)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kelly, Bwomono, Kenny, Sutherland, F.Taylor, Mooney
SK Brann: Dyngeland, Pedersen, Knudsen (c), Kristiansen, Soltveldt, Kartum (Opsahl 89), Kornvig, Myhre, Blomberg (Mathisen 89), Finne (Heggebø 79), Castro (Sande 76)
Subs Not Used: Børsheim, Johansen, Warming, Helland, Holten
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referee: Jurgen Spiteri
Assistant Referee: Mitchell Scerri
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia
VAR: Peter Bankes
Attendance: 7,023 (185 away supporters)
