What a finish to give Scotland a smash-and-grab victory and send their fans into the sun-drenched evening of Oslo eager to party all night. Steve Clarke’s squad trailed Erling Haaland’s 59th goal of the season with three minutes remaining in regulation and were facing their first Euro 2024 qualifying loss.
Then, a stunning conclusion rendered Haaland’s penalty irrelevant. First, Lyndon Dykes equalized the score after John McGinn’s probing. Then, McGinn touched a Scott McTominay sweeper to Dykes, who set up Kenny McLean. The substitute’s goal induced jubilation among the Tartan Army.
After victories against Cyprus and Spain (totaling 5-0), Clarke stated that a road victory against a foe like Norway would be a significant step forward for his endeavor. Now, he has reached this outcome also.
Clarke exclaimed, “When your time comes, you must simply ride the surge. The lads believed in themselves and persevered to escape a difficult situation. It’s good that we continue to lead the pack.
He said of Dykes’ goal and assist, “He never lets his country down. He is superb. Against a team like Norway, he displayed excellent physicality. I am delighted that Lyndon scored a goal.”
The prize for the visitors was mastery of their destiny if they departed with a road victory that would be as valuable as their previous victory over Spain at Hampden Park.
In 33°C pitchside heat, the strategy was to rest and request that Stale Solbakken’s men attempt to disassemble them. This nearly happened twice as Scotland escaped. Patrick Berg fed Martin Nygaard, who found the overlapping Julian Ryerson in a first fluid Norway move. The right-back passed the ball in the general direction of Haaland, but his radar was off.
Ola Solbakken, charging down the left flank, was more precise: he sent in a cross that beckoned Alexander Srloth to head it past Angus Gunn, but he only found the custodian.
The conflict intensified, and Scotland retaliated. His team was awarded a second corner kick, this time on the right, after a corner kick taken from the left by McTominay ricocheted around Norway’s penalty area. McGinn struck the ball into the danger zone and ran Nyland leaped to collect it.
Jack Hendry heaved a sigh of relief as the first half came to a close after McGinn’s effort was blocked by Stefan Strandberg’s flailing leg. After tackling Haaland to the ground, the center-back was only shown a yellow card, even though the striker would have scored if he had not been impeded.
Haaland, who had been quiet to this point, then pivoted and set up Solbakken; his shot was easy for Gunn to collect, as was McGinn’s longer-range attempt for Nyland to catch.
As time ran limited, Scotland forced Norway to take more chances to break the stalemate.
Again involving Haaland, who danced and shimmied into Scotland’s penalty area: the defender appeared to bring him down, but referee Matej Jug was unconcerned.
Norway was dissatisfied and would have been enraged if a subsequent Andy Robertson assault had breached their defenses. It did not, and the host team subsequently scored via a penalty kick. A raid down their right flank allowed Srloth to cross the ball into the penalty area. Ryan Porteous placed Haaland on the ground, and Jug indicated the location.
With only his 13th contact of the match, the lethal center forward defeated Gunn to Gunn’s right. Haaland, his colleagues, and the Norwegian fans were ecstatic. The 22-year-old’s follow-up performance after a layoff was a rampage through the middle, but no return pass was issued.
The removal of Haaland near the end was a welcome sight for Scotland. But not as welcoming as what was about to occur. Martin Degaard could not conceal his dissatisfaction as Norway sat with one point after three matches and five to play.
The captain remarked, “This is a tough blow.” “It will be extremely difficult to qualify now, we must be honest. We must stay together and handle the situation from there.”
