Cup final in Oslo, November 3, 2002 =================================== Vålerenga - Odd Grenland 1-0 (1-0) Ullevaal stadion Att: 25.481 1-0 Bjørn Arild Levernes (5) Referee: Tommy Skjerven, Kaupanger. Yellow card: Christian Flindt Bjerg (41), Odd Grenland, Tom Henning Hovi (44), Tobias Grahn (73), Vålerenga. Line-ups -------- Vålerenga (4-5-1): Øyvind Bolthof - Freddy dos Santos, Erik Hagen, Knut Henry Haraldsen, Tom Henning Hovi - David Hanssen, Johan Arneng, Kjetil Rekdal, Pa-Modou Kah (Ronny Døhli from 49.), Bjørn Arild Levernes (Thomas Holm from 75.) - Tobias Grahn (Kristen Viikmäe from 90.); Morten Bakke, Stian Ohr, Knut Hovel Heiaas, Petter Belsvik, Jonas Krogstad. Odd Grenland (4-3-3): Erik Holtan - Alexander Aas, Ronny Deila, Jan Frode Nornes, Anders Rambekk - Morten Fevang, Bent Inge Johnsen (Brede Bomhoff from 75.), Christian Flindt Bjerg (Espen Hoff from 68.) - Edwin van Ankeren, Martin Wiik (Sveinung Fjeldstad from 71.), Jan Gunnar Solli. Match report ------------- Vålerenga took their third Norwegian cup win after a narrow 1-0 defeat of Odd Grenland. The Skien team playing their record 20th cup final never managed to recover from an early blow when Levernes put the Oslo team in front. Despite some good chances, the equalizer never happened. Vålerenga defended well without creating very good chances to extend the lead themselves in what really was a rather unattractive game. Playing coach Rekdal showed why he is a winning person by stiffling all Odd Grenland attacks in midfield. The perfect tactic to win the cup final one year after winning the first division. A place in Europe was also the consequence, five years after reaching the quarterfinals of the old cup-winners cup.