Lillestrom, just one point behind before Sunday's showdown, sustained their challenge to the finish by beating bottom side Tromso 3-1 at home, but their title hopes were ultimately dashed by Rosenborg's goal bonanza.

Rosenborg, high on confidence after defeating Celtic in a Champions League match in midweek, seized the initiative as midfielders Bent Skammelsrud and Frode Johnsen scored two early penalties.

Brann, cheered by a record 19,000 crowd eager to see their side ruin Rosenborg's streak of trophies, cut the deficit when Tomas Razanauskas netted just before the break.

The second half was all Rosenborg, with Frode Johnsen scoring his second goal in the 63rd minute, followed by Bent Inge Johnsen making it 4-1 seven minutes later. Midfielder Orjan Berg got the fifth with a 20-metre shot in the 79th minute.

Brann added a second through striker Thorstein Helstad in the final minute but their humiliation was complete when Frode Johnsen headed his third goal just before the end.

Johnsen was the season's joint top scorer with Brann's Helstad and Lillestrom's Clayton Zane, all with 17 goals.

'This became a demonstration of power. The players deserve all honour after this match. We were good,' Rosenborg coach Nils Arne Eggen said.

The title winners beat Celtic 2-0 in the Champions League last Tuesday to keep alive their slim chance of qualifying for the second phase.

By losing to Lillestrom, Tromso were automatically relegated to the first division together with Stromsgodset, while Bryne have a playoff against Hamar Kameratene to decide who stays up.