Cup final in Oslo, October 29, 2000 =================================== Odd Grenland - Viking 2-1 (0-1) aet Ullevaal stadion Att: 24.864 0-1 Bjørn Dahl (45) 1-1 Hannu Tihinen (o.g. 65) 2-1 Christian Flindt Bjerg (106) Referee: Frode Kvam, Strindheim. Yellow card: Rikhardur Dadason (40), Hannu Tihinen (69), Morten Berre (93), Viking, Erik Pedersen (91), Odd Grenland. Line-ups -------- Odd Grenland (4-3-3): Erik Holtan - Alexander Aas, Ronny Deila, Bård Borgersen, Jan Frode Nornes (Anders Rambekk from 46.) - Morten Fevang (Christian Flindt Bjerg from 105.), Erik Pedersen, Sami Mahlio - Espen Hoff (Tor Gunnar Johnsen from 78.), Kim Larsen, Thomas Røed; Erik Bo Andersen. Viking (4-4-2): Lars Gaute Bø - Audun Helgason, Bjørn Dahl, Hannu Tihinen, Thomas Pereira - Bjørn Berland (Gunnar Aase from 27., Jørgen Tengesdal from 112.), Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim, Erik Fuglestad, Morten Berre - Erik Nevland (Tom Sanne from 74.), Rikhardur Dadason. Match report ------------ 69 years after winning their last cup final, the most winning cup team in Norway added another trophy to their tally. With a 2-1 win Odd Grenland are Norwegian cup winners for a record 12th time. However, Viking started the better, and also took the lead two minutes into injury time when defender Dahl mishit a cross which fooled keeper Holtan, who otherwise was the best player on the field. After the break, Odd Grenland raised their game. But didn't create any big chances before a cross from the left was met by Fevang. His shot seemed to go just wide, but Finnish defender Tihinen popped up and turned it into his ownm goal. Unlucky, as Tihinen has been one of the best players of Viking this year. In the rest of the second half, neither side created any big chances and the game went into extra time. As both teams tired, the game opened up, with Odd being the more creative side. It was no surprise when the Danish substitute Flindt Bjerg popped up and struck a volley into the roof of the net after a headed pass by another sub, Johnsen. Viking then had to attack to force a replay. But the nearest they came was a header which hit the cross bar by Berre. All in all, not one of the better cup finals of late, as both sides created far too little, and made too many mistakes in passing the ball. However, nobody in Skien cares about that today. After a long wait the most traditional cup team in Norway is back on top. Viking had to be content with the UEFA cup spot next season, where of course Odd Grenland also will play.