Scotland 0 Norway 0

Published on Saturday 11 October 2008 19:15

Scotland's World Cup hopes were dealt a massive blow this afternoon as George Burley's side were held to a no-scoring draw by Norway at Hampden.

And new boy Chris Iwelumo suffered a nightmare debut, the 30-year-old Wolves striker unbelievably firing the ball wide from just four yards out after a terrific cross from ex-Hearts star Gary Naysmith had left him facing an empty net.

It was a miss which will haunt Iwelumo for the rest of his life and one which has left Scotland with just four points from their opening three qualifying matches, the Tartan Army departing the national stadium asking why Kris Boyd was left sitting on the bench throughout.

Having dubbed this a "must win" match if the dream of being in South Africa in two years time was to be realised, Scotland boss George Burley opted to deploy James McFadden as a lone striker against the rugged Norwegian defensive partnership of Kjetil Waehler and Brede Hangeland, charging Barry Robson and James Morrison with the task of getting up in support of the Birmingham City man.

The early indications were good with the Scots forcing a couple of early corners without putting their opponents in any great danger but towering Norwegian hitman John Carew soon gave warning of the threat he was to pose, exchanging passes with Steffen Iversen to give himself a clear run on Craig Gordon.

But Naysmith came in with a great covering tackle before Gary Caldwell completed the job as Carew attempted to retrieve the situation.

Carew again had the Tartan Army holding their breath in the 20th minute when he spun away from Scott Brown and beat Caldwell for pace before driving in an angled shot which Gordon beat away, the ball falling for Bjorn Helge Riise who could do not better than blast a shot high over the bar.

A clever tocuh from Scotland skipper Darren Fletcher, however, created a great opening for Morrison, the Manchester United midfielder leaving Hangeland stranded on the right flank. But, with McFadden screaming for the ball at the near post, Morrison screwed his low cross behind his team-mate and the chance was gone.

The Norwegians were happy to soak up the pressure and hit on the break as they did again in the 29th minute as Carew latched onto a through ball and drilled a low shot which was comfortably taken by Gordon, Morrison having earlier directed a tame shot into the arms of goalkeeper John Knudsen.

There was a scare for Scotland in the 35th minute when David Weir appeared to lay his hands on the shoulders of Carew as the pair battled to reach a high ball but Swiss referee Massimo Busacca waved away the Aston Villa star's claims for a penalty.

There were no such shouts, however, when Weir came up with a tremendous challenge to take the sting out of a Carew shot as the bit striker got on the end of Fredrik Stromstad's header across goal and, almost on the halftime whistle, Morrison could only nod a great cross from McFadden, who had drifted out to the left touchline, over. Carew again threatened danger five minutes after the restart, Christian Grindheim robbing Barry Robson as he attempted to take possession of a poor pass from Naysmith, the Norwegian star hammering in a powerful shot which Gordon did well to beat round the post.

Robson was brought down by a cynical challenge from Jon Inge Hoiland as he looked to be bursting through before Burley, knowing the Scots badly needed a goal, made a double substitution in the 56th minutes, Hibs Steven Fletcher replacing Morrison while Iwelumo came on to win his first cap as McFadden came off.

Seconds later Robson tested Knudsen with a low shot after Broadfoot's throw-in had been headed clear by Hangeland but the Norwegian goalkeeper displayed a safe pair of hands as Scotland moved to a 4-4-2 formation with the substitutes teaming up in attack.

And Iwelumo should have scored in the 64th minute after great work by Scott Brown set Naysmith racing into Norway's penalty area, the former Hearts defender delivering a perfect low cross which left Knudsen beaten. Iwelumo was all alone well inside the six yard box with the goal gaping but somehow the Wolves hitman, scorer of eight goals for his club this season, managed the seemingly impossible as he fired the ball well wide of the target.

Iwelumo's miss had stunned Hampden into silence but, to their credit, the Scots began to turn the screw with Sean Maloney coming in from the left to dispatch a shot which had the diving Knudsen beaten only for the ball to skip inches wide of the target before the Celtic man saw another attempt deflected past.

As the minutes began to agonisingly the Tartan Army again found their voice, urging Burley's troops forward in search of that all-important goal as Norway became less and less of a threat, their attacks more sporadic and easily repulsed.

Even so there was a scare for Scotland as Waeheler threw himself at a corner from John Arne Riise which somehow found it's way to him at the back post, his header slipping wide.

Scotland survived again with just five minutes remaining as Morten Gamst Pedersen nipped away from Naysmith and picked out Daniel Braaten at the far post. He took the ball down but Gordon was in the right place to block his shot, the rebound falling for Daniel Braaten who saw his effort stopped by Naysmith.

There was further agony for the Scots in added-on time, Broadfoot's low cross escaping the outstretched boots of both Steven Fletcher and Iwelumo.

Scotland: Gordon, Broadfoot, Caldwell, Weir, Naysmith, Morrison (S Fletcher 56), D Fletcher, Brown, Robson, Maloney, McFadden (Iwelumo 56). Subs not used: McGregor, G Alexander, Boyd, Hartley, Berra.

Norway: Knudsen, Hoiland, Waehler, Winsnes, Hangeland, J Riise, Stromstad (Pedersen 76), Grindheim, B Riise (Braaten 56), Carew, Iversen. Subs not used: Jarstein, Haland, Younoussi, Skjonsberg, Helstad.

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)