CUP === Final: Vålerenga - Strømsgodset 4-2 Semifinals: Bodø/Glimt - Strømsgodset 2-1, 1-3 Viking - Vålerenga 1-4, 1-1 Quarterfinals: Haugesund - Strømsgodset 2-3 aet Rosenborg - Viking 2-3 aet Stabæk - Bodø/Glimt 1-3 Vålerenga - Sogndal 3-2 LEAGUE ====== PREMIER DIVISION Rosenborg are champions again, for the sixth time in a row. Their winning margin this year is 11 points. Brann take the silver medals after a good fall season. This is the first time since 1976 any silverware end up in Bergen. Strømsgodset are the surprise bronze medalists, but lose the cup final, which means that Molde get the last UEFA Cup place, whereas Stabæk end up with nothing to show for their efforts. At the bottom, the two teams from Oslo, Skeid and Lyn, are simply not good enough and go down early. However, Sogndal, hardly outside the bottom three all season, save themselves on the last day. Instead, it is Tromsø which have to go through the playoff before they secure yet another season in the premier division. Of the other teams, newcomer Haugesund have a good season, and easily avoid the drop, the first team from that town ever to do so. Lillestrøm and Viking are the two negative surprises of the season, whereas Kongsvinger and Bodø/Glimt end up according to expectations. Rosenborg 26 18 7 1 87-20 61 Champions Cup Brann 26 15 5 6 59-37 50 UEFA Cup Strømsgodset 26 14 4 8 58-44 46 UEFA Cup Molde 26 13 6 7 47-36 45 UEFA Cup (fair play) Stabæk 26 13 4 9 33-35 43 Kongsvinger 26 11 5 10 43-48 38 Bodø/Glimt 26 10 7 9 39-34 37 Viking 26 8 10 8 42-34 34 Haugesund 26 9 5 12 31-38 32 Lillestrøm 26 9 5 12 34-43 32 Sogndal 26 8 5 13 34-56 29 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tromsø 26 6 10 10 37-44 28 Play-off ----------------------------------------- Lyn 26 4 5 17 28-58 17 Relegated Skeid 26 3 4 19 27-72 13 Relegated Top scorers: ============ 25 goals: Sigurd Rushfeldt, Rosenborg 23 goals: Harald Brattbakk, Rosenborg 16 goals: Mons Ivar Mjelde, Brann 15 goals: Kjetil Løvvik, Brann 14 goals: Jostein Flo, Strømsgodset 13 goals: Odd Inge Olsen, Molde 12 goals: Stig Johansen, Bodø/Glimt Daniel Berg Hestad, Molde Mini Jakobsen, Rosenborg 11 goals: Lasse Olsen, Strømsgodset Attendance: =========== Club Total Average Rosenborg 147 395 11 338 Brann 147 221 11 324 Viking 84 868 6 528 Strømsgodset 72 420 5 570 Haugesund 63 308 4 870 Lillestrøm 52 868 4 066 Molde 50 465 3 881 Stabæk 44 344 3 411 Bodø/Glimt 43 249 3 327 Tromsø 41 583 3 198 Skeid 32 391 2 491 Kongsvinger 31 736 2 441 Lyn 26 187 2 014 Sogndal 23 806 1 831 ------- ------ Total 861 841 4 735 The average was down from just above 5000 last year. Hopefully, with Vålerenga back in the premier division, this will change in 1998. As a first division team this season they drew almost the same as Oslo rivals Skeid and Lyn combined. FIRST DIVISION Vålerenga not only win the cup final, but also the first division. Quite a contrast to the relegation last season. They are closely followed by Moss, which also make the stay in the first division as brief as possible. These two teams are in a class of their own. Eik-Tønsberg go to the playoff after a long battle with a number of other teams, but have no chance against Tromsø. At the bottom, Harstad and newcomer Sarpsborg are relegated early on, and are followed by Drøbak/Frogn few weeks later. The other newcomer, Runar, are the fourth team to be relegated, but only after a close battle with a number of other teams. Note that only 6 points separate the 3rd and 11th team in the division, which suggests that there were many teams of equal class. Vålerenga 26 19 3 4 70-21 60 Promoted (Cup Winners Cup) Moss 26 19 2 5 52-27 59 Promoted ----------------------------------------- Eik-Tønsberg 26 11 7 8 43-34 40 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Start 26 11 7 8 41-44 40 Odd Grenland 26 11 6 9 39-36 39 Byåsen 26 11 4 11 42-36 37 Hødd 26 11 3 12 35-40 36 Hamarkameratene 26 9 8 9 40-34 35 Bryne 26 10 5 11 46-42 35 Aalesund 26 11 2 13 36-36 35 ----------------------------------------- Runar 26 10 4 12 35-45 34 Relegated Drøbak/Frogn 26 6 6 14 21-47 24 Relegated Harstad 26 4 8 14 21-52 20 Relegated Sarpsborg 26 5 3 18 19-46 18 Relegated SECOND DIVISION With 8 groups and only 4 promotion places, half the second division winners would have to be content with yet another season in the same division, which is somewhat cruel. After the playoffs, the four lucky teams to go up are Kjelsås and Ullern from Oslo, Strindheim from Trondheim and Raufoss. Ullern and Strindheim bounce straight back after being relegated in 1996, whereas Raufoss are back at the second highest level for the first time since 1987. Kjelsås, however, have never before played at that level and will make their debut in the first division in 1998. Group 1: ======== Kjelsås 22 13 6 3 46-20 45 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Skjetten 22 12 6 4 40-22 42 Lillestrøm 2 22 12 5 5 76-30 41 Fredrikstad 22 10 8 4 41-21 38 Ski 22 10 5 7 58-37 35 Østsiden 22 10 2 10 46-34 32 Råde 22 9 3 10 47-48 30 Strømmen 22 8 4 10 36-40 28 Sprint/Jeløy 22 8 4 10 40-60 28 ----------------------------------------- Lørenskog 22 8 2 12 34-50 26 Not relegated (best 10th place team) Frigg Oslo 22 5 5 12 26-64 20 Relegated Selbak 22 0 4 18 14-78 4 Relegated Group 2: ======== Raufoss 22 13 6 3 53-27 45 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Faaberg 22 13 2 7 54-27 41 Grei 22 11 4 7 42-35 37 Liv/Fossekallen 22 10 5 7 43-23 35 Årvoll 22 10 5 7 43-36 35 Elverum 22 10 3 9 48-50 33 Jevnaker 22 8 6 8 37-35 30 Gjøvik/Lyn 22 7 8 7 40-39 29 Hamarkameratene 2 22 8 4 10 26-44 28 ----------------------------------------- Eidsvold Turn 22 6 4 12 31-42 22 Relegated Mercantile 22 5 6 11 26-50 21 Relegated Holter 22 4 1 17 23-58 13 Relegated Group 3: ======== Ullern 22 14 5 3 41-17 47 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bærum 22 13 5 4 52-30 44 Sandefjord 22 14 1 7 43-30 43 Ørn-Horten 22 12 3 7 56-37 39 Jerv 22 11 6 5 44-26 39 Larvik Turn 22 11 5 6 45-34 38 Pors Grenland 22 11 5 6 38-29 38 Mjøndalen 22 7 5 10 35-32 26 Åssiden 22 5 3 14 30-43 18 ----------------------------------------- Falk 22 4 6 12 22-43 18 Relegated Vindbjart 22 4 2 16 15-59 14 Relegated Stokke 22 3 0 19 21-62 9 Relegated Group 4: ======== Vidar 22 16 2 4 60-19 50 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fyllingen 22 15 1 6 64-30 46 Vard 22 13 4 5 50-30 43 Randaberg 22 10 4 8 35-32 34 Flekkefjord 22 9 2 11 39-42 29 Eiger 22 8 5 9 26-31 29 Sola 22 8 4 10 39-45 28 Vedavåg 22 8 4 10 35-45 28 Ålgård 22 7 6 9 28-31 27 ----------------------------------------- Vigør 22 5 7 10 32-48 22 Relegated Viking 2 22 7 1 14 24-53 22 Relegated Kopervik 22 4 4 14 27-53 16 Relegated Group 5: ======== Fana 22 18 3 1 56-18 57 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Åsane 22 15 3 4 46-21 48 Brann 2 22 10 5 7 47-28 35 Nest-Sotra 22 11 1 10 48-42 34 Volda 22 7 10 5 27-26 31 Stryn 22 8 5 9 37-38 29 Førde 22 8 5 9 32-35 29 Stord 22 6 7 9 28-42 25 Skarbøvik 22 7 3 12 27-44 24 ----------------------------------------- Løv-Ham 22 6 3 13 35-44 21 Relegated Trott 22 5 4 13 26-47 19 Relegated Ørsta 22 6 1 15 29-53 19 Relegated Group 6: ======== Kolstad 22 13 6 3 42-20 45 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nardo 22 11 6 5 40-23 39 Ranheim 22 12 3 7 37-26 39 Abildsø 22 11 4 7 40-34 37 Molde 2 22 9 4 9 45-37 31 Træff 22 8 7 7 46-39 31 Averøykameratene 22 8 7 7 33-33 31 National 22 7 8 7 42-49 29 Fossum (Bærum) 22 7 5 10 35-39 26 ----------------------------------------- Åndalsnes 22 6 7 9 27-30 25 Not relegated (second 10th pl. team) Orkanger 22 4 5 13 31-52 17 Relegated Nidelv 22 4 2 16 22-58 14 Relegated Group 7: ======== Strindheim 22 17 0 5 80-29 51 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rosenborg 2 22 15 1 6 79-28 46 Verdal 22 14 0 8 45-31 42 Mosjøen 22 12 5 5 50-32 41 Stålkameratene 22 13 1 8 55-39 40 Relegated (*) Gevir Bodø 22 9 6 7 68-38 33 Steinkjer 22 10 3 9 42-46 33 Stjørdals/Blink 22 9 5 8 47-52 32 Mo 22 9 1 12 55-46 28 ----------------------------------------- Namsos 22 5 4 13 43-70 19 Relegated Sandnessjøen 22 2 2 18 33-112 8 Relegated Fauske/Sprint 22 1 4 17 25-99 7 Relegated (*) Stålkameratene relegated by NFF decision, after having used uneligible players both this season and in 1996. Group 8: ======== Lofoten 22 17 3 2 66-25 54 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tromsdalen 22 14 4 4 69-28 46 Finnsnes 22 13 1 8 62-34 40 Skjervøy 22 12 4 6 54-35 40 Alta 22 11 4 7 66-44 37 Mjølner 22 11 2 9 65-39 35 (*) Narvik/Nor 22 10 4 8 48-52 34 (*) Silsand og Omegn 22 9 5 8 46-38 32 Polarstjernen 22 7 5 10 40-71 26 ----------------------------------------- Sortland 22 5 1 16 35-56 16 Relegated Porsanger 22 2 4 16 26-63 10 Relegated Tromsø 2 22 1 3 18 28-120 6 Relegated (*) Mjølner merged with Narvik/Nor to form Narvik FK. THIRD DIVISION The winners of group 1 to 19, and thereby promoted: Bjerke (1), Rakkestad (2), Vålerenga 2 (3), Nybergsund (4), Stabæk 2 (5), Drafn (6), Mandalskameratene (7), Klepp (8), Haugesund 2 (9), Os (10), Jotun (11), Aalesund 2 (12), Clausenengen (13), Orkdal (14), Bangsund (15), Bodø/Glimt 2 (16), Morild (17), Lyngen/Karnes (18), Hammerfest FK (19). The five best second placed teams were also promoted: Lyn 2 (5), Sandnes FK (9), Sogndal 2 (11), Kristiansund (13), Ulfstind (18). 1998 ==== Next season's grouping of the teams in the second division has been decided as follows: PREMIER DIVISION (14) Bodø/Glimt, Brann, Haugesund, Kongsvinger, Lillestrøm, Molde, Moss, Rosenborg, Sogndal, Stabæk, Strømsgodset, Tromsø, Viking, Vålerenga. FIRST DIVISION (14) Bryne, Byåsen, Eik-Tønsberg, Hamarkameratene, Hødd, Kjelsås, Lyn, Odd Grenland, Raufoss, Skeid, Start, Strindheim, Ullern, Aalesund. SECOND DIVISION (8x12) Group 1: Bjerke, Drøbak/Frogn, Faaberg, Gjøvik/Lyn, Jevnaker, Jotun, Lillestrøm 2, Liv/Fossekallen, Lyn 2, Sprint/Jeløy, Strømmen, Årvoll. Group 2: Abildsø, Bærum, Elverum, Fossum (Bærum), Grei, Hamarkameratene 2, Lørenskog, Nybergsund, Rakkestad, Sarpsborg, Skjetten, Stabæk 2. Group 3: Drafn, Fredrikstad, Larvik Turn, Mjøndalen, Runar, Råde, Sandefjord, Ski, Vålerenga 2, Ørn, Østsiden, Åssiden. Group 4: Eiger, Flekkefjord, Haugesund 2, Jerv, Klepp, Mandalskameratene, Pors, Randaberg, Sandnes FK, Sola, Vidar, Ålgård. Group 5: Brann 2, Fana, Fyllingen, Førde, Nest-Sotra, Os, Sogndal 2, Stord, Stryn, Vard, Vedavåg, Åsane. Group 6: Averøykameratene, Clausenengen, Kristiansund, Molde 2, Orkdal, Skarbøvik, Steinkjer, Træff, Verdal, Volda, Aalesund 2, Åndalsnes. Group 7: Bangsund, Bodø/Glimt 2, Gevir Bodø, Kolstad, Mo, Mosjøen, Nardo, Narvik FK, National, Ranheim, Rosenborg 2, Stjørdals/Blink. Group 8: Alta, Finnsnes, Hammerfest, Harstad, Lofoten, Lyngen/Karnes, Morild, Polarstjernen, Silsand, Skjervøy, Tromsdalen, Ulfstind.