STUART FRASER

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FOOTBALL
SCOTLAND V NORWAY
Freelance Match Report
By Stuart Fraser
11^th October 2008

Scotland suffered a blow in their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign as Norway held them to a goalless draw at the National Stadium with international debutant Chris Iwelumo missing an open goal from all of three yards.

Iwelumo’s miss was met by disbelief from the Hampden crowd and the lack of a Scottish goal has fuelled fans calls for Kris Boyd to have started the match or at least have come on as a substitute. As it was, Boyd was left to warm the bench as Iwelumo produced one of, if not the biggest sitter ever seen at the National Stadium.

Scotland manager George Burely now faces a tough task to ensure his team qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after a game which both teams had chances to win at either end.

The first shot of the match came in the 7th minute when Kirk Broadfoot played a pass through to James Morrison on the edge of the box but his shot was hit straight at the Norwegian keeper Jon Knudsen. Seconds later, dangerman John Carew nearly put Norway in front. He cut through the central defensive pairing of David Weir & Gary Caldwell and was one on one with Craig Gordon but Caldwell managed to track back and save the day with an excellent tackle.

In the 15th minute, Carew showed his threat by turning the Scotland defence at ease although Broadfoot managed to intercept to put the ball out for a Norwegian corner from which centre-back Brede Hangeland headed wide.

Yet again Carew was terrorising the Scotland defence and in the 20^th minute he ran through towards the Scotland goal in possession with relative ease. His shot was parried by Gordon and luckily for Scotland, the resultant rebound was hit over the bar by Bjorn Helge Riise.

It was fair to say that Scotland were holding the majority of the possession but just could not offer anything in the final third. Norway however were threatening at any point they went forward and in the 40^th minute Fredrick Winsnes played the ball out to Fredrik Stromstad who nodded the ball in towards the edge of the six yard box. Carew took the ball down and side footed it towards the Scottish goal but Davie Weir managed to block his effort which ensured that the match remained level as the teams went in at half time.

Things were no different though moments into the second half with John Carew proving as much a threat as he was in the first 45. Scotland lost possession within their own half, the ball was played through to Carew who found himself in another one-on-one situation with Gordon but he hit the ball straight at the Sunderland keeper who turned it round the post.

In the 53^rd minute, Norway hit Scotland on the counter attack and earned a corner. Former Liverpool man John Arne Riise swung the ball towards the far post where Kjetil Waehler rose above the Scottish defence but he could only head the ball into the side netting.

In a scene reminiscent of an international friendly, there were three substitutions made in the 56^th minute. Norway brought Daniel Braaten on for Helge Riise whilst Scotland replaced James Morrison with Steven Fletcher and, to the sound of some boos from the Scottish fans, Burley took James McFadden off to give Chris Iwelumo his international debut. Scotland really pushed for the opening goal after this in a 4-4-2 formation and Barry Robson had a low 20-yard drive saved by Knudsen.

In the 64^th minute, Substitute Iwelumo almost became an instant national hero. Scott Brown brilliantly held off two Norwegians at once on the left wing to play the ball to Gary Naysmith. He ran into the box and cut the ball across to the Wolves hitman who somehow missed an open goal from three yards. Hampden was in disbelief and Iwelumo held his head in his hands as he rued missing a golden opportunity.

Scotland continued to press forward and Shaun Maloney was unlucky in the 72^nd minute with a low shot from 20 yards which swerved in the air but went just wide of the target.

Scotland just could not find that all important goal though and in pushing forward, they left themselves slightly open at the back which nearly cost them in the 85^th minute. Brown gave the ball away to Morten Gamst Pedersen who crossed the ball in from the right. Steffen Iversen’s shot was blocked though by Gordon and the rebound luckily came to nothing.

It also nearly cost the Scots with two minutes to go. The Norwegians played the ball through which Weir failed to deal with. Carew held him off to advance towards goal but he hit his shot over the bar. The action then went from end to end when Steven Fletcher produced some good work on the left to play the ball to Iwelumo in the box. He laid it off for Shaun Maloney but just like Carew’s effort shortly before, it was hit over the crossbar.

The Hampden crowd willed Scotland forward in stoppage time and the players continued to oblige. Broadfoot advanced up the right wing towards the edge of the box and cut the ball across the goalmouth but Iwelumo & Maloney both failed to get a touch on it.

Moments later, referee Massimo Busacca blew the final whistle and it was met by a chorus of jeers from some of the Scottish fans. It was a highly frustrating game for Scotland however Norway also had their chances and Norwegian Manager Age Hareide stated after the game that he believed that the team who scored first would have went on to win the game.

George Burley agreed: “We had some good opportunities and I think if we got the first goal, we would have won the match. It didn’t happen though and it’s a case where we are disappointed not to get the three points.”

On the tough task now facing Scotland to qualify for the world cup, Burley said: “It’s still possible. We’re now on four points, Norway are on two so there’s no doubt that our away games are going to be important.”

At half time, the Tartan Army performed a rendition of the World Cup anthem ‘We Have A Dream’ to help raise money for Children in Need. By full time though, some believed that the dream was already over.

SCOTLAND: Gordon, Broadfoot, Naysmith, Weir, Caldwell, Brown, D Fletcher, Morrison (S Fletcher 56), McFadden (Iwelumo 56), Robson, Maloney

NORWAY: Knudsen, Inge Hoiland, Waehler, Winsnes, Hangeland, Arne Riise, Stromstad (Gamst Pedersen 77), Grindhein, Helge Riise (Braaten 56), Carew, Iversen

Yellow Card: Inge Hoiland, Iversen.

Attendance: 51,300