Cup final in Oslo, October 26, 1997 =================================== Vålerenga - Strømsgodset 4-2 (1-0) Ullevaal stadion Att: 22 678 1-0 Kjell Roar Kaasa (4) 2-0 Espen Haug (51) 2-1 Marco Tanasic (53) 2-2 Tanasic (56) 3-2 Espen Musæus (63) 4-2 Bjørn Arild Levernes (65) Referee: Roy Helge Olsen, Harstad. Yellow card: Dmitrij Barannik (65), Strømsgodset. Line-ups -------- Vålerenga (4-4-2): Tore Krogstad - Thomas Berntsen (Viggo Strømme from 84.), Knut Henry Haraldsen, Fredrik Kjølner, Joachim Walltin - Bjørn Viljugrein, Bjørn Arild Levernes (Svein Erik Pettersen from 87.), Espen Haug (Kent Karlsen from 88.), Espen Musæus - Kjell Roar Kaasa, John Carew; Fredrik Gärdeman, Dag Riisnæs, Håvard Lunde, Juro Kuvicek. Strømsgodset (4-4-2): Glenn Arne Hansen - Espen Horsrud, Dmitrij Barannik, Vegard Hansen, Pål Skistad - Rune Hagen, Sander Solberg, Ousman Nyan (Hans Erik Ødegård from 70.), Marco Tanasic (Morten Kihle from 70.) - Lasse Olsen, Jostein Flo (Thomas Røed from 78.). Match report ------------ - A very entertaining final at Ullevaal, where the first division champions Vålerenga crowned an incredible season by winning their first cup since 1980. The team from Oslo started very aggressively, forcing six corners and many good opportunities in the first 10 minutes only. On one such occasion Kaasa was sent through by Carew. He dribbled the last defender and shot past SIF keeper Hansen. For the rest of the half, Vålerenga were in control, although SIF gradually worked themselves into the game. However, they were not able to create a lot of good chances. The second half started like the first, with an early goal for VIF. This time it came off a corner, which was played out to Levernes on 16 meters. He fired a first-time shot which was saved on the line, but Haug was the quickest to react on the rebound and headed the ball into the net. By that time, there was little evidence to suggest that SIF would came back into the game, but five minutes later they had levelled the score! The two goals were very similar. Both came off set-pieces, and a resulting goal-mouth scramble, and on both occations Tanasic was the man who scored. Suddenly it seemed like the premier division bronze medalists would have upper hand. However, Vålerenga regained the lead only seven minutes later, when beautiful interplay between Carew and Haug set off Musæus on the left side, who fired an excellent diagonal half-volley into the right hand corner. Only two minutes later, the Oslo team were awarded a freekick on 25 metres. This was taken by Levernes, who sent a beautiful shot into the right hand corner. Goalkeeper Hansen was slightly mispositioned, bu the goal was still as good as any goal you will see in a final. After those two quick goals, SIF never came back, despite creating a couple of good chances near the end. On the other hand, VIF could easily have scored themselves on some nice counter-attacks. All in all, there could be now doubt that the better team on the day also ran away with the cup. The win means of course that Vålerenga will represent Norway in the 1998/99 Cup Winners Cup, whereas SIF will have to be content with playing in the UEFA Cup, and Stabæk will have to rely on the Intertoto Cup 1998 in order to qualify for the UEFA Cup.