CUP === Final: Odd Grenland - Viking 2-1 aet Semifinals: Odd Grenland - Bodø/Glimt 4-0 Viking - Start 4-0 Quarterfinals: Bodø/Glimt - Lillestrøm 2-0 Odd Grenland - Moss 2-2 aet, 9-8 on pen. Start - Molde 0-0, H (Start won by NFF decision) Viking - Vålerenga 3-2 LEAGUE ====== PREMIER DIVISION Business as usual on top of the premier division, with Rosenborg winning the title for a record 9th successive time. The team from Trondheim was rarely threatened, even though Brann made a strong start in the spring. A bad patch after the Euro2000 break meant Brann faded and had to settle for second place, which meant Champions League qualification. Viking had a very good autumn period, and at that stage looked certain to finish second, but lost the silver medals in the last rounds. A UEFA Cup place was small consolation. Tromsø started badly, but recovered very well, especially in the late summer when they also climbed to second. In the end fourth position was a good performance. Not so for Stabæk, who once more finished 5th and missed out on European qualification. Lillestrøm had a very unstable season, mixing good and bad results. Even more of a disappointment was Molde, whose goal of catching up Rosenborg ended when they lost 5 matches in a row in the summer. Odd Grenland had another satisfying season, and capped it all with their first cup win for 67 years. Moss and Bodø/Glimt were both too good to go down, but too bad to fight for any silverware and thus spent most of the time in mid-table. At the bottom, the three newcomers and big-spending Vålerenga fought against relegation all season. To many people's surprise, Bryne was the team who stayed up, whereas Start and Haugesund return to the first division after only one year in the top flight. Vålerenga made them company after losing to Sogndal in the play-off. Without doubt the most unexpected outcome of the 2000 season. Rosenborg 26 16 6 4 61- 26 54 Champions Cup Brann 26 14 5 7 53- 40 47 Champions Cup Viking 26 13 6 7 51- 39 45 UEFA Cup Tromsø 26 13 5 8 51- 46 44 UEFA Cup (fair play?) Stabæk 26 12 6 8 59- 33 42 Lillestrøm 26 11 7 8 42- 29 40 Molde 26 11 7 8 46- 47 40 Odd Grenland 26 11 5 10 40- 31 38 UEFA Cup (cup winner) Moss 26 8 8 10 38- 44 32 Bodø/Glimt 26 6 10 10 48- 59 28 Bryne 26 7 6 13 32- 60 27 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vålerenga 26 5 9 12 32- 44 24 Play-off ------------------------------------- Start 26 5 6 15 40- 66 21 Relegated Haugesund 26 5 4 17 33- 62 19 Relegated Top scorers: ============ 18 goals: Thorstein Helstad, Brann 15 goals: Magne Hoseth, Molde Tryggvi Gudmundsson, Tromsø Rikhardur Dadason, Viking 13 goals: Tommy Bergersen, Bodø/Glimt Bengt Sæternes, Bodø/Glimt Erik Nevland, Viking 12 goals: Frode Johnsen, Rosenborg (Odd Grenland) 11 goals: Hans Berggren, Haugesund Christian Michelsen, Stabæk Andreas Ottosson, Start 10 goals: Trond Fredrik Ludvigsen, Bodø/Glimt Petter Belsvik, Rosenborg Attendance: =========== Club Average Rosenborg 11 944 Brann 11 389 Vålerenga 7 630 Molde 6 816 Viking 6 659 Start 5 551 Odd Grenland 4 794 Lillestrøm 4 687 Tromsø 3 926 Stabæk 3 769 Bryne 3 601 Haugesund 3 424 Bodø/Glimt 3 173 Moss 2 730 ------ Total average 5 722 (total 1 041 388) FIRST DIVISION Despite Vålerenga's relegation, Oslo will still be represented in the premier division in 2001. Neighbours Lyn won the first division in style and return to the top flight after three years absence. Strømsgodset join them in promotion after being relagated the previous season. As do Sogndal, whose young side surprised everybody by knocking Vålerenga out in the play-off. These three teams were in a class of their own, with the rest of the clubs fighting it out for relegation. Due to the enlargement from 14 to 16 teams in 2001, only two teams were relegated. After a close battle, Strindheim from Trondheim, and Eik-Tønsberg had to go down. The latter, despite leading the first division all-time table. Strindheim still might be saved though, as the presence of Byåsen in the first division in 2001 is still uncertain, because they have not yet had their license renewed, and might be forced to relegation. Lyn 26 19 4 3 55- 24 61 Promoted Strømsgodset 26 18 5 3 70- 28 59 Promoted ------------------------------------- Sogndal 26 15 6 5 73- 37 51 Play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Raufoss 26 11 6 9 50- 39 39 Kongsvinger 26 11 6 9 44- 38 39 Hamarkameratene 26 11 5 10 48- 44 38 L/F Hønefoss 26 10 4 12 45- 42 34 Kjelsås 26 8 7 11 30- 40 31 Tromsdalen 26 9 2 15 37- 62 29 Skeid 26 7 7 12 36- 52 28 Sandefjord 26 8 4 14 35- 53 28 Byåsen 26 9 1 16 33- 58 28 ------------------------------------- Strindheim 26 7 5 14 39- 58 26 Relegated Eik-Tønsberg 26 6 4 16 28- 48 22 Relegated SECOND DIVISION Again, but now for the last time, four of the eight group winners were promoted. Next season, there will be only four groups, with the group winners qualifying automatically. After the play-offs, three regular faces and one newcomer were victorious. Hødd from Ulsteinvik return to the first division after only one year absence. Neighbouring Aalesund completed a very good season for north-western region Sunnmøre by returning too, after their relegation in 1998. Old, traditional club, Ørn-Horten, are also finally back at the second highest level for the first time since 1987. However, Mandalskameratene from southern Norway will be making their first appearance at this level since 1952/53 after surprisingly winning their play-off fixture. Due to the reduction of teams in the second division next season a large percentage of teams had to go down to the third division, and the battle to avoid this was long and hard in all 8 groups. Of those teams who didn't make it one notices Strømmen, Sarpsborg and Os, three clubs with top flight experience in the past. Group 1: ======== Skjetten 22 14 3 5 61- 27 45 Promotion play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sprint/Jeløy 22 14 3 5 41- 22 45 Åsane 22 13 5 4 65- 24 44 Pors Grenland 22 11 6 5 47- 37 39 Tollnes 22 11 4 7 51- 35 37 Lyn 2 22 10 4 8 39- 35 34 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ski 22 9 5 8 36- 37 32 Relegation play-off Strømmen 22 8 2 12 29- 62 26 Relegated (third worst 8th place team) ------------------------------------- Mercantile/Lam. 22 6 3 13 31- 45 21 Relegated Drøbak/Frogn 22 5 6 11 32- 49 21 Relegated Lillestrøm 2 22 6 0 16 26- 51 18 Relegated Fossum 22 4 1 17 19- 53 13 Relegated Group 2: ======== FF Lillehammer 22 14 4 4 50- 28 46 Promotion play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ullern 22 14 3 5 55- 30 45 Fredrikstad 22 13 5 4 57- 30 44 Stabæk 2 22 13 3 6 58- 28 42 Asker 22 13 3 6 46- 24 42 Lørenskog 22 12 4 6 65- 37 40 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gjøvik/Lyn 22 7 5 10 32- 39 26 Relegation play-off Elverum 22 7 4 11 52- 50 25 Relegated (second worst 8th place team) ------------------------------------- Sarpsborg 22 6 7 9 33- 36 25 Relegated Årvoll 22 6 3 13 28- 52 21 Relegated Vardal 22 4 2 16 25- 73 14 Relegated Kongsvinger 2 22 0 3 19 27- 101 3 Relegated Group 3: ======== Ørn Horten 22 14 4 4 53- 30 46 Promotion play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Oslo Øst 22 14 2 6 58- 37 44 Bærum 22 12 2 8 46- 38 38 Odd Grenland 2 22 12 1 9 51- 34 37 Ullensaker/Kisa 22 12 0 10 39- 36 36 Kvik Halden 22 11 2 9 41- 42 35 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vålerenga 2 22 9 6 7 40- 28 33 Relegated (*) Eidsvold Turn 22 10 2 10 40- 43 32 Relegation play-off ------------------------------------- Skarphedin 22 9 4 9 48- 38 31 Relegated Grei 22 6 3 13 34- 36 21 Relegated Rakkestad 22 6 0 16 46- 80 18 Relegated Eik-Tønsberg 2 22 3 2 17 24- 78 11 Relegated (*) Only next season premier division teams are now allowed to field their second teams in the second division. Thus, as Vålerenga was relegated from the premier division, Vålerenga 2 was relegated too. Group 4: ======== Mandalskam. 22 16 2 4 71- 28 50 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vidar 22 16 2 4 59- 29 50 Viking 2 22 13 5 4 72- 37 44 Vard Haugesund 22 11 7 4 56- 27 40 Start 2 22 9 6 7 54- 41 33 Relegated (*) Stord 22 8 6 8 61- 53 30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sandnes 22 8 5 9 34- 46 29 Relegation play-off Nord 22 9 1 12 51- 56 28 Relegation play-off ------------------------------------- Flekkefjord 22 6 4 12 36- 64 22 Relegated Randaberg 22 6 4 12 27- 56 22 Relegated Vigør 22 4 3 15 36- 58 15 Relegated Hundvåg 22 3 1 18 22- 84 10 Relegated (*) Only next season premier division teams are now allowed to field their second teams in the second division. Thus, as Start was relegated from the premier division, Start 2 was relegated too. Group 5: ======== Hødd 22 17 2 3 61- 25 53 Promotion play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fyllingen 22 14 3 5 53- 30 45 Løv-Ham 22 14 2 6 55- 27 44 Fana 22 11 4 7 52- 33 37 Førde 22 10 4 8 47- 43 34 Tornado 22 10 4 8 29- 27 34 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Florø 22 10 4 8 40- 39 34 Not relegated (best 7th place team) Os 22 8 4 10 46- 33 28 Relegation play-off ------------------------------------- Fjøra 22 8 3 11 39- 59 27 Relegated Ny-Krohnborg 22 7 3 12 47- 55 24 Relegated Ørsta 22 3 2 17 30- 75 11 Relegated Jotun 22 2 1 19 24- 77 7 Relegated Group 6: ======== Aalesund 22 18 2 2 81- 16 56 Promotion play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Skarbøvik 22 17 3 2 65- 21 54 Clausenengen 22 14 4 4 79- 37 46 Molde 2 22 12 4 6 57- 43 40 Spjelkavik 22 12 0 10 38- 46 36 Rosenborg 2 22 11 1 10 46- 40 34 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Træff 22 9 4 9 49- 35 31 Relegation play-off Stranda 22 6 5 11 29- 44 23 Relegated (worst 8th place team) ------------------------------------- Orkla 22 5 5 12 30- 62 20 Relegated Dahle 22 4 3 15 28- 70 15 Relegated Tiller 22 4 3 15 39- 82 15 Relegated Sunndal 22 2 2 18 25- 70 8 Relegated Group 7: ======== Stålkameratene 22 16 2 4 72- 34 50 Promotion play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Verdal 22 15 1 6 55- 40 46 Ranheim 22 12 5 5 59- 34 41 Steinkjer 22 13 2 7 58- 38 41 Harstad 22 11 5 6 48- 33 38 Mo 22 9 7 6 40- 44 34 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fauske/Sprint 22 11 1 10 47- 52 34 Relegation play-off Kolstad 22 9 2 11 48- 50 29 Relegation play-off ------------------------------------- Mosjøen 22 9 1 12 38- 43 28 Relegated Levanger 22 7 5 10 29- 37 26 Relegated Steigen 22 4 0 18 41- 69 12 Relegated Bodø/Glimt 2 22 0 1 21 24- 85 1 Relegated Group 8: ======== Lofoten 22 20 0 2 90- 25 60 Promotion play-off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Alta 22 19 0 3 99- 34 57 Narvik 22 11 4 7 50- 43 37 Skjervøy 22 10 5 7 46- 42 35 Finnsnes 22 10 3 9 46- 48 33 Skarp 22 10 2 10 46- 40 32 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grovfjord 22 9 4 9 43- 52 31 Relegation play-off Lyngen/Karnes 22 9 3 10 53- 53 30 Relegation play-off ------------------------------------- Senja 22 9 0 13 48- 67 27 Relegated Vesterålen 22 6 5 11 49- 60 23 Relegated Salangen 22 3 3 16 38- 80 12 Relegated Bossekop 22 0 3 19 31- 95 3 Relegated THIRD DIVISION Due to league reorganisation 10 play-off groups of 3 teams were played involving the 19 third division group winners and 11 current second division teams. Only four play-off winners were also third division group winners: Nybergsund (4), Nest-Sotra (9), Stjørdals/Blink (15) and Hammerfest (19). The other play-off winners were current second division teams Eidsvold Turn, Gjøvik/Lyn, Sandnes, Nord, Træff and Fauske/Sprint. 2001 ==== Next season's group division of the teams in the second division has been decided as follows: PREMIER DIVISION (14) Bodø/Glimt, Brann, Bryne, Lillestrøm, Lyn, Molde, Moss, Odd Grenland, Rosenborg, Sogndal, Stabæk, Strømsgodset, Tromsø, Viking. FIRST DIVISION (16) Byåsen, Hamarkameratene, Haugesund, Hødd, Kjelsås, Kongsvinger, L/F Hønefoss, Mandalskameratene, Raufoss, Sandefjord, Skeid, Start, Tromsdalen, Vålerenga, Ørn Horten, Aalesund. SECOND DIVISION (4x14) Group 1: Asker, Bærum, Eik-Tønsberg, Fredrikstad , FF Lillehammer, Kvik Halden, Nybergsund, Odd Grenland 2, Pors Grenland, Sprint/Jeløy, Stabæk 2, Tollnes, Ullensaker/Kisa, Ullern. Group 2: Fana, Florø, Fyllingen, Førde, Løv-Ham, Nest-Sotra, Nord, Sandnes, Stord, Tornado, Vard Haugesund, Vidar, Viking 2, Åsane. Group 3: Clausenengen, Gjøvik/Lyn, Oslo Øst, Molde 2, Ranheim, Rosenborg 2, Skarbøvik, Skjetten, Spjelkavik, Steinkjer, Stjørdals/Blink, Strindheim, Træff, Verdal. Group 4: Alta, Eidsvold Turn, Fauske/Sprint, Finnsnes, Hammerfest, Harstad, Lofoten, Lyn 2, Lørenskog, Mo, Narvik, Skarp, Skjervøy, Stålkameratene.