Joachim Soltvedt slotted Brann ahead after just five minutes
Manager Stephen Robinson says St Mirren "have had the taste and now want more" European football after their Conference League adventure ended in a devastating defeat by Brann.
Joachim Soltvedt rolled in the opener after a cute cutback to put Robinson’s side 2-1 behind on aggregate early in the third qualifying round second leg in Bergen.
Searching for their first win away on the continent for 44 years, St Mirren did not go down without a fight as Oisin Smyth’s wonderful volley was well saved and Richard Taylor’s close-range header flew too high.
As the game went on, it grew incredibly open in the relentless rain and the scent of a St Mirren equaliser was in the air.
They were a threat from set-pieces all night and substitutes Fraser Taylor and Alex Iacovitti linked up, with the latter thunderously heading the visitors level with just over 15 minutes left.
With the wind in their sails, it seemed that, if any team might grab victory, it would be St Mirren.
Mikael Mandron picked out Toyosi Olusanya, but the striker, who put in a tireless shift, slipped in untimely fashion and the chance was squandered.
Felix Myhre then powered a heartbreaking header beyond Ellery Balcombe with five minutes left before Aune Heggebo capitalised on the visitors' collapse with Brann's third on the break.
The Norwegians now progress to the play-off round, where they will face Astana of Kazakhstan.
Robinson could not hide his pride for his side. "We score a brilliantly worked corner, a brilliant delivery from young Fraser Taylor and, for 10 minutes, we had them rocking," he told BBC Scotland.
"Toy slips over when he has a side-foot into the goal - the game could have been very different.
"Had we played like that over two legs, if we had that belief in the first leg, it might have been a different story."
Robinson's rallying cry answered but Brann's patience pivotal
Robinson did not shy away from saying his side had to up the ante if they wanted to keep adding stamps to their passports.
He noted their bravery, their pace and their ability on the ball. Three qualities Brann showed within five minutes of kick-off.
Though it was the worst possible start for the Buddies, they did not buckle. Before they fell behind, Shaun Rooney had shanked a glorious close-range effort and, while the visitors were under the cosh for much of the first half, they were hardly torn apart.
In the second, they were clearly on top and deservedly levelled. Despite their inexperience at this level, they were confident in their play and everything Robinson called for was implemented in a marked improvement from last week’s show.
St Mirren were brave, but when they maybe sniffed a vulnerability in Brann, the Norwegian hosts instead pounced in clinical fashion.
For the travelling support, their trips abroad - for now - are over. They will not forget the scenes that unfolded at Iacovitti's equaliser any time soon and can bounce back to Paisley with pride.
If the second-half performance is anything to go by, the passports will not be away for long.
What they said
St Mirren 'have had a taste and want more' - Stephen Robinson
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "I wrote one word on the board before the game and that was belief. I said the only mistake you can make tonight is not believing in yourselves because we are good enough to get a result.
"Levels wise, they are a very, very good side with a great manager and in a brilliant city. The goals we concede, that's the big disappointment, every goal is preventable.
"But we put a performance in tonight that done me and the players proud. It done us justice."
