Iversen penalty proves enough
Saturday, 9 October 2004
By Alex O'Henley at Hampden Park
[1] A Steffen Iversen penalty on 54 minutes was enough to move Norway on to four points in Group 5 and inflict Scotland's first FIFA World Cup qualifying home defeat since 1985.
McFadden dismissed
[2] Scotland finished the match with ten men after James McFadden handled on the goalline to give away the spot-kick, and they now have one point from two games while Norway recovered from losing in Italy and drawing with Belarus in their September fixtures.
Two changes
[3] Home manager Berti Vogts brought in centre-back Russell Anderson and midfield player Richard Hughes to replace Steven Pressley and Nigel Quashie who had dropped out of the squad through illness and injury respectively. Norway coach Åge Hareide was also forced to make two changes to his first-choice eleven after Vidar Riseth and Jon Inge Høiland failed late fitness tests with right-back André Bergdølmo and centre-back Erik Hagen - making his international debut - drafted in as replacements.
Carew threat
[4] Vogts had identified John Carew as the main threat for Norway and within three minutes the Besitkas JK striker lived up to his billing with a surging run that took him down the left hand side and along the byline before delivering a low cross-shot. Craig Gordon in the Scotland goal could only palm away his effort, but the ball was cleared for a corner before Norway could take advantage.
Hughes denied
[5] Scotland thought they had opened the scoring on 30 minutes after the Norwegian defence failed to deal with a McFadden corner from the right. Goalkeeper Thomas Myhre produced a superb save from Paul Dickov at the back post and then Hughes's follow-up effort was cleared off the line by Iversen.
Norway ahead
[6] Two minutes after the interval Darren Fletcher's shot was blocked when he was released by Ferguson, and it was not long before Norway instead broke the deadlock. Gordon missed an inswinging corner from Magne Hoset and Carew's header was sailing into the net until McFadden handled on the line. The Everton FC forward was given a straight red card and Iversen converted the penalty to put Norway in front.
Pair suspended
[7] Vogts introduced Stephen Pearson and Kenny Miller in the closing minutes as Scotland chased an equaliser, but Norway held on. McFadden now misses Scotland's next match against Moldova on Wednesday along with Paul Dickov who picked up his second yellow card of the campaign. Norway welcome Slovenia to Oslo the same day.