CUP === Final: Rosenborg - Brann 2-0 Semifinals: Molde - Brann 3-4 aet Rosenborg - Tromsø 2-1 Quarterfinals: Brann - Odd Grenland 3-2 Lyn - Rosenborg 1-2 Molde - Lillestrøm 3-0 Tromsø - Raufoss 5-0 LEAGUE ====== PREMIER DIVISION Rosenborg were crowned league champions for the 8th successive season. Once again their stability proved decisive. However, Molde were only 6 points behind, and if they hadn't lost both games to RBK things might have ended differently. Brann and Lillestrøm had also very good seasons. Especially the young LSK-side was a revelation throughout the season, whereas Brann beat Rosenborg twice in the league, but lost to the champions in the cup final. Stabæk sold a couple of their best players in the summer and 5th plce was disappointing. Tromsø had the league's top scorer and scored the second most goals. Odd Grenland was a very good newcomer, never in danger of relegation. Viking and Bodø/Glimy could only finish in mid-table, which was disappointing, especially for the team from Stavanger. The bottom five all fought against relegation for most of the season. Moss and Vålerenga managed to save themselves with good late runs. Whereas another club from Oslo, Skeid, and Kongsvinger had to go down, which was unsurprising. They were joined by Strømsgodset which lost in the final minute of the return leg of the play-offs to Start. Rosenborg 26 18 2 6 75- 33 56 Champions Cup Molde 26 16 2 8 49- 37 50 UEFA Cup Brann 26 16 1 9 45- 40 49 UEFA Cup (cup loser) Lillestrøm 26 15 3 8 60- 41 48 UEFA Cup Stabæk 26 14 4 8 58- 49 46 Tromsø 26 13 5 8 70- 46 44 Odd Grenland 26 12 3 11 42- 48 39 Viking 26 11 3 12 51- 48 36 Bodø/Glimt 26 10 4 12 52- 54 34 Moss 26 9 2 15 39- 46 29 Vålerenga 26 8 4 14 40- 53 28 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Strømsgodset 26 7 3 16 46- 68 24 Play-off ------------------------------------- Skeid 26 7 2 17 36- 75 23 Relegated Kongsvinger 26 6 2 18 34- 59 20 Relegated Top scorers: ============ 23 goals: Rune Lange, Tromsø 21 goals: Andreas Lund, Molde 18 goals: Jostein Flo, Strømsgodset 17 goals: John Carew, Rosenborg (Vålerenga) Rikhardur Dadason, Viking 16 goals: Bengt Sæternes, Bodø/Glimt Heidar Helguson, Lillestrøm 15 goals: Sigurd Rushfeldt, Rosenborg 14 goals: Tore Andre Dahlum, Rosenborg Petter Belsvik, Stabæk Helgi Sigurdsson, Stabæk 13 goals: Andre Schei Lindbæk, Molde (Skeid) Tryggvi Gudmundsson, Tromsø 11 goals: Jan Derek Sørensen, Rosenborg 10 goals: Kjetil Løvvik, Brann Andreas Alm, Kongsvinger Bjørn Berland, Viking Attendance: =========== Club Average Rosenborg 13 359 Brann 9 445 Molde 7 163 Vålerenga 6 626 Viking 6 099 Odd Grenland 4 752 Lillestrøm 4 485 Tromsø 4 199 Strømsgodset 3 956 Stabæk 3 749 Bodø/Glimt 3 311 Moss 2 897 Kongsvinger 2 369 Skeid 1 764 ------ Total average 5 370 (total 977 399) FIRST DIVISION Three clubs from south-west of Norway with prior experience from the top division ended at the top, and were thus promoted. Haugesund finished the stronger and made sure of a quick return after only one year absence. Start looked like clinching the second automatic spot but faded miserably in the run-in, making room for Bryne, which finally return after being close for many years since their relegation in 1988. In the end though, also Start were promoted after winning in the play-offs. The first division was once again highly competitve, with little separating the top teams from those at the bottom. However, north-western clubs Hødd and Clausenengen were early doomed for relegation. The two remaining spots were not decided until the last round. Newcomers Lofoten and Skjetten drew the short straw, whereas Byåsen, having three points deducted for financial irregularities, stayed up in the end. Haugesund 26 16 4 6 61- 32 52 Promoted Bryne 26 14 7 5 43- 33 49 Promoted ------------------------------------- Start 26 13 8 5 42- 31 47 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lyn 26 11 9 6 54- 30 42 Sogndal 26 12 6 8 38- 32 42 Kjelsås 26 11 8 7 33- 28 41 Eik-Tønsberg 26 10 7 9 39- 39 37 L/F Hønefoss 26 10 5 11 43- 42 35 Raufoss 26 8 8 10 35- 36 32 Byåsen 26 9 6 11 37- 32 30* ------------------------------------- Lofoten 26 8 6 12 38- 47 30 Relegated Skjetten 26 8 5 13 29- 43 29 Relegated Hødd 26 5 6 15 34- 51 21 Relegated Clausenengen 26 4 1 21 24- 74 13 Relegated * Byåsen 3 points deducted. SECOND DIVISION Once again, only four of the eight group winners were promoted. This time, four familiar faces made the leap. Hamarkameratene and Strindheim won promotion after being relegated last year. Tromsdalen return for the first time since 1996, whereas Sandefjord Fotball, with the best players of Sandefjord BK and Runar, made it to the first division at the first attempt. Tough luck on all four play-off losers. Asker lost their place in the final minute, Aalesund in extra time, and Fyllingen on fewer away goals. However, Vidar are probably the most unlucky team, losing out in the play-offs for the third successive season. Thankfully, NFF are considering a change with the possible introduction of four second divison groups (instead of eight) from 2001. Group 1: ======== Hamarkameratene 22 17 2 3 61- 17 53 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Faaberg 22 14 4 4 48- 22 46 Elverum 22 11 6 5 47- 33 39 Grei 22 11 3 8 41- 28 36 Lillestrøm 2 22 11 3 8 51- 48 36 Årvoll 22 8 8 6 48- 43 32 Lyn 2 22 9 5 8 48- 46 32 Eidsvold Turn 22 8 3 11 42- 47 27 Ski 22 6 5 11 29- 44 23 ------------------------------------- Nybergsund 22 5 7 10 31- 37 22 Relegated Trøgstad/Båstad 22 4 3 15 25- 69 15 Relegated Tynset 22 2 3 17 21- 58 9 Relegated Group 2: ======== Asker 22 14 4 4 47- 21 46 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ørn Horten 22 14 3 5 56- 26 45 Kvik Halden 22 13 4 5 53- 35 43 Vålerenga 2 22 12 2 8 45- 34 38 Sarpsborg 22 10 4 8 43- 32 34 Lørenskog 22 10 4 8 42- 35 34 Gjøvik/Lyn 22 9 7 6 26- 24 34 Fredrikstad 22 8 4 10 27- 28 28 Drøbak/Frogn 22 6 5 11 28- 47 23 ------------------------------------- Runar 22 6 2 14 33- 50 20 Relegated Østsiden 22 5 1 16 26- 62 16 Relegated Abildsø 22 4 2 16 25- 57 14 Relegated (*) (*) Abildsø merged with Manglerud/Star, Oppsal and Rustad to form Oslo Øst. Group 3: ======== Sandefjord 22 13 9 0 59- 21 48 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tollnes 22 13 4 5 55- 28 43 Bærum 22 10 8 4 43- 27 38 Pors Grenland 22 10 2 10 43- 34 32 Ullern 22 8 7 7 39- 39 31 Skarphedin 22 9 3 10 41- 37 30 Stabæk 2 22 8 5 9 42- 42 29 Sprint/Jeløy 22 7 5 10 36- 46 26 Manglerud/Star 22 8 2 12 41- 56 26 (*) ------------------------------------- Drafn 22 7 4 11 31- 48 25 Relegated Jevnaker 22 6 4 12 28- 50 22 Relegated Råde 22 6 1 15 35- 65 19 Relegated (*) Manglerud/Star merged with Abildsø, Oppsal and Rustad to form Oslo Øst. Group 4: ======== Vidar 22 13 6 3 51- 26 45 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mandalskam. 22 13 4 5 53- 35 43 Start 2 22 10 3 9 45- 41 33 Flekkefjord 22 9 6 7 39- 42 33 Viking 2 22 8 7 7 35- 29 31 Sandnes 22 9 3 10 42- 38 30 Ullensaker/Kisa 22 8 5 9 36- 38 29 Randaberg 22 7 8 7 35- 41 29 Vard Haugesund 22 7 7 8 42- 31 28 ------------------------------------- Haugesund 2 22 8 3 11 46- 48 27 Relegated Sola 22 6 5 11 35- 56 23 Relegated Ålgård 22 2 7 13 27- 61 13 Relegated Group 5: ======== Fyllingen 22 17 4 1 76- 19 55 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Åsane 22 16 3 3 66- 36 51 Førde 22 10 5 7 50- 41 35 Fana 22 10 4 8 43- 31 34 Os 22 9 7 6 34- 24 34 Stord 22 7 6 9 43- 40 27 Tornado 22 7 6 9 35- 49 27 Ny-Krohnborg 22 5 8 9 39- 43 23 Florø 22 6 5 11 24- 58 23 ------------------------------------- Brann 2 22 6 4 12 46- 56 22 Relegated Radøy 22 4 5 13 40- 65 17 Relegated Sogndal 2 22 4 5 13 33- 67 17 Relegated Group 6: ======== Aalesund 22 17 5 0 83- 17 56 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Skarbøvik 22 15 2 5 52- 25 47 Kolstad 22 11 5 6 44- 39 38 Orkla 22 11 3 8 46- 35 36 Træff 22 11 2 9 54- 41 35 Sunndal 22 10 3 9 42- 45 33 Molde 2 22 9 3 10 43- 37 30 Ranheim 22 8 5 9 41- 37 29 Ørsta 22 6 5 11 36- 52 23 ------------------------------------- Averøykam. 22 5 4 13 27- 76 19 Relegated Volda 22 4 4 14 25- 51 16 Relegated Nardo 22 3 3 16 22- 60 12 Relegated Group 7: ======== Strindheim 22 18 1 3 80- 24 55 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Verdal 22 15 0 7 54- 43 45 Stålkameratene 22 13 5 4 68- 31 44 Narvik 22 11 2 9 51- 48 35 Bodø/Glimt 2 22 10 2 10 61- 57 32 Steinkjer 22 9 5 8 47- 43 32 Rosenborg 2 22 8 6 8 50- 50 30 Mo 22 7 6 9 49- 49 27 Mosjøen 22 8 3 11 46- 49 27 ------------------------------------- Gevir Bodø 22 9 0 13 40- 53 27 Relegated Brønnøysund 22 3 5 14 31- 87 14 Relegated Namsos 22 1 5 16 27- 70 8 Relegated Group 8: ======== Tromsdalen 22 16 4 2 89- 25 52 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Alta 22 15 3 4 88- 33 48 Harstad 22 14 4 4 63- 26 46 Skarp 22 11 2 9 56- 60 35 Sortland 22 10 4 8 49- 57 34 Senja 22 8 6 8 54- 66 30 (*) Finnsnes 22 8 5 9 58- 61 29 Skjervøy 22 8 5 9 46- 49 29 Lyngen/Karnes 22 7 7 8 37- 47 28 ------------------------------------- Nordreisa 22 5 3 14 43- 68 18 Relegated Hammerfest 22 4 4 14 40- 60 16 Relegated Kirkenes 22 1 3 18 20- 91 6 Relegated (*) Silsand changed their name to Senja from round 6. THIRD DIVISION The winners of group 1 to 19, and thereby promoted: Strømmen (1), Fossum (Bærum) (2), Kongsvinger 2 (3), Vardal (4), Mercantile (5), Odd Grenland 2 (6), Vigør (7), Hundvåg (8), Nord (9), Løv-Ham (10), Fjøra (11), Spjelkavik (12), Dahle (13), Tiller (14), Levanger (15), Steigen (16), Grovfjord (17), Salangen (18), Bossekop (19). The five best second placed teams were also promoted: Rakkestad (3), Eik-Tønsberg 2 (6), Jotun (11), Stranda (12), Fauske/Sprint (16). 2000 ==== Next season's group division of the teams in the second division has been decided as follows: PREMIER DIVISION (14) Bodø/Glimt, Brann, Bryne, Haugesund, Lillestrøm, Molde, Moss, Odd Grenland, Rosenborg, Stabæk, Start, Tromsø, Viking, Vålerenga. FIRST DIVISION (14) Byåsen, Eik-Tønsberg, Hamarkameratene, Kjelsås, Kongsvinger, L/F Hønefoss, Lyn, Raufoss, Sandefjord, Skeid, Sogndal, Strindheim, Strømsgodset, Tromsdalen. SECOND DIVISION (8x12) Group 1: Drøbak/Frogn, Fossum (Bærum), Lillestrøm 2, Lyn 2, Mercantile, Pors Grenland, Ski, Skjetten, Sprint/Jeløy, Start 2, Strømmen, Tollnes. Group 2: Asker, Elverum, Fredrikstad, Faaberg, Gjøvik/Lyn, Kongsvinger 2, Lørenskog, Sarpsborg, Stabæk 2, Ullern, Vardal, Årvoll. Group 3: Bærum, Eidsvold Turn, Eik-Tønsberg 2, Grei, Kvik Halden, Odd Grenland 2, Oslo Øst, Rakkestad, Skarphedin, Ullensaker/Kisa, Vålerenga 2, Ørn Horten. Group 4: Flekkefjord, Hundvåg, Mandalskameratene, Nord, Randaberg, Sandnes, Stord, Vard Haugesund, Vidar, Vigør, Viking 2, Åsane. Group 5: Fana, Fjøra, Florø, Fyllingen, Førde, Hødd, Jotun, Løv-Ham, Ny-Krohnborg, Os, Tornado, Ørsta. Group 6: Clausenengen, Dahle, Molde 2, Orkla, Rosenborg 2, Skarbøvik, Spjelkavik, Stranda, Sunndal, Tiller, Træff, Aalesund. Group 7: Bodø/Glimt 2, Fauske/Sprint, Harstad, Kolstad, Levanger, Mo, Mosjøen, Ranheim, Steigen, Steinkjer, Stålkameratene, Verdal. Group 8: Alta, Bossekop, Finnsnes, Grovfjord, Lofoten, Lyngen/Karnes, Narvik, Salangen, Senja, Skarp, Skjervøy, Sortland.