2015 Eliteserien promotion/relegation play-offs

The 2015 Eliteserien promotion/relegation play-offs was the 42nd time a spot in the Norwegian top flight was decided by play-off matches between top tier and second level clubs.

At the end of the 2015 season, Mjøndalen and Sandefjord Fotball were relegated directly to 2016 OBOS-ligaen, and was replaced by Sogndal and SK Brann who were directly promoted.

Background

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The play-offs between Eliteserien and 1. divisjon have been held every year since 1972 with exceptions in 1994 and 2011. They take place for the two divisions following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the fourteenth-placed club in Eliteserien and the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places in 1. divisjon. The fixtures are determined by final league position – the first to knockout-rounds begins with the four teams in the OBOS-ligaen: 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th, and the winner then play each other to determine who meet the Eliteserien club in the final.

Qualified teams

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Five teams entered a play-off for the last Eliteserien spot for the 2016 season. These were:

  • Start (14th placed team in the Tippeligaen)
  • Kristiansund (third placed team in the OBOS-ligaen)
  • Hødd (fourth placed team in the OBOS-ligaen)
  • Jerv (fifth placed team in the OBOS-ligaen)
  • Ranheim (sixth placed team in the OBOS-ligaen)

The four OBOS-ligaen teams first played a single game knockout tournament, with the winner (Jerv) advancing to a two-legged tie against the Eliteserien team (Start) for the 16th and final spot in the 2016 Eliteserien season. Start maintained their position in the top flight with a 4–2 win on aggregate against Jerv.

Matches

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The third to sixth-placed teams in 2015 1. divisjon took part in the promotion play-offs; these were single leg knockout matches, two semi-finals and a final. The winners of the second round, Jerv, advanced to play the 14th placed team in Tippeligaen over two legs in the Eliteserien play-offs for a spot in the top-flight next season.

First round

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Kristiansund1–0Ranheim
Økland   60' Report
Attendance: 1,905
Referee: Kai Erik Steen
Hødd1–1 (a.e.t.)Jerv
Wrele   38' Report Omoijuanfo   90'
Penalties
5–6
Attendance: 1,663
Referee: Marius Hansen Grøtta

1–1 on aggregate. Jerv won 6–5 on penalties.

Second round

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Kristiansund0–2Jerv
Report Lind   85'
Robstad   90'
Attendance: 2,152
Referee: Tommy Skjerven

Final

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The 14th-placed team, Start, took part in a two-legged play-off against Jerv, the winners of the 2015 First Division promotion play-offs, to decide who would play in the 2016 Tippeligaen.

Jerv1–1Start
Omoijuanfo   86' Report Stokkelien   19'
Attendance: 2,010
Referee: Trygve Kjensli
Start3–1Jerv
Hollingen   42'
Børufsen   49'
DeJohn   83'
Report Antwi   45'
Attendance: 12,245

Start won 4–2 on aggregate and retained their place in the 2016 Tippeligaen; Jerv remained in the First Division.

Bracket

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First roundSecond roundFinal round
3Kristiansund1
5Jerv1
6Ranheim0
3Kristiansund014Start1
5Jerv2
4Hødd1(5)
5Jerv (pen.)1(6)