Scots held by battling Norway

Scotland failed to keep their World Cup qualification bid on track after a goalless draw against Norway.

Iwelumo miss hampers Scotland's chances of qualification

Scotland failed to keep their World Cup qualification bid on track after a goalless draw against Norway in their Group 9 clash at Hampden Park. The draw further dents Scotland's hopes of automatic qualification as they must now strive to make a play-off place. George Burley's men were outplayed in the first half with John Carew causing problems for the Scotland defence, his best effort coming shortly after the break and forcing Craig Gordon into a low save. Substitute Chris Iwelumo missed a glorious chance after 64 minutes when a square ball from Gary Naysmith found the Wolves striker just yards out, but the debutant somehow failed to score in front of an open goal. The home side had a penalty claim turned down minutes later when Naysmith's appeals after going down in the box were waved away by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca.

Threat

Scotland started strongly earning a corner after two minutes but the looping set piece from Shaun Maloney was cleared easily by the Norwegian defence. The first threat from Carew, partnered by former Tottenham striker Steffen Iversen, came just minutes later when he surged through the Scotland defence. David Weir and Gary Caldwell recovered well to ensure the Aston Villa striker could not get a clean strike on Gordon's goal. Captain, and Fulham centre-back, Brede Hangeland began leading the charge for the visitors, getting his head on a corner after 15 minutes, only to see it bounce and go wide of the goal. Carew continued to exploit the Scotland defence midway through the first half making a powerful run from midfield. His shot from 20 yards was parried by Gordon into the path of Bjorn Helge Riise, the midfielder failing to control and sending it well wide of the post. Scotland enjoyed their strongest spell of possession shortly after with a flurry of long-range efforts from midfield. Barry Robson had the chance to capitalise with his 28th-minute corner but his left-footed in-swinger was easily cleared by Hangeland. Stand-in captain Darren Fletcher saw his follow-up effort from 20 yards do little to trouble Norway debutant goalkeeper Jon Knudsen, who was a spectator for much of the first half. Age Hareide's side continued their dominance of the game with Carew at the hub of their attack. Scott Brown was left outwitted by the Villa striker after 29 minutes, the Scotland winger unsure whether to play offside or track the run, but his strike was comfortably saved by Gordon. Another long-range effort from Scotland followed, the lively Shaun Maloney getting down the left and firing a shot wide of the mark. Norway continued their sturdy defence forcing Burley's side into striking from distance. Norway earned a free-kick 10 minutes before the break after Caldwell's hand caught Iversen in the face. John Arne Riise threaded a low pass down the left for Fredrik Stromstad but his ball was badly weighted, Stromstad doing his best to earn a corner. The frustration for Scotland began to show shortly before the break when Caldwell needlessly brought down Iversen in the centre of the park. Their exasperation continued late into the half when Norway produced a flurry of chances, Scotland doing well to go in goalless at the break. Weir prevented Carew getting a shot on goal before Grindhelm stepped away from Scott Brown to launch a shot over the bar. Riise then won the ball back deep in Scotland's half only to leave himself at a tight angle, sending a weak effort at Gordon. But it was Scotland that finished the half with the best chance, James McFadden scuttling away from Bjorn Helge Riise to send a cross towards James Morrison waiting at the far post, his header inches over the bar. Neither side made any substitutions at the break and it was Norway that began the brightest, Brown bravely clearing the ball from the edge of the box as Scotland looked nervy dealing with John Arne Riise's free kick. Gordon was again called into action after 51 minutes, after Caldwell attempted to force Carew out wide, the striker's shot sending Gordon left for a low save.

High tempo

The Scotland fans appeared rejuvenated minutes later when Jon Inge Hoiland was shown the first yellow card of the game for bringing down Robson. The Scotland support became deafening and seemed to inspire the side when Maloney's corner was met by Kirk Broadfoot, his shot cleared towards Fletcher who fired over. Kjetil Waehler was the next opponent for Gordon, the defender rising above the Scotland defence, only to head the ball into the side netting. Iwelumo was brought on by Burley 10 minutes into the second half, the 30-year-old Wolves striker making his debut for the national side, Burley choosing to replace McFadden who had a quiet afternoon. Robson then picked up the ball just inside the box, striking the ball on the half volley towards Knudsen who read it well to comfortably collect. Scotland then saw their best move of the game, beginning with Fletcher at a tight angle at the far post attempting to square the ball across back into the box. Naysmith continued in the same vein only to see no one latch onto his decent cross into the box. The best chance of the game fell to Iwelumo after 64 minutes when he found himself inside the six-yard box and facing an open goal. The striker got in behind the Norway defence but fluffed his shot and somehow sent it wide of the post. Iwelumo had another chance minutes later when Fletcher drilled in a low ball from the left, the striker falling leaving Norway to easily clear the danger. Steven Fletcher picked up the clearance and made a strong run into the box, appealing for a penalty after Norway captain Hangeland sent him to the ground. Norway substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen had the last chance of the game, stealing the ball from Naysmith before eluding Brown, but his effort was easily collected by Gordon. Scotland will rue their missed chances but it is Norway, who are traditionally better away from home, who will be left satisfied with the end result.

Scotland	Team Statistics	Norway
0	Goals	0
0	1st Half Goals	0
2	Shots on Target	5
6	Shots off Target	9
2	Blocked Shots	3
6	Corners	8
9	Fouls	18
5	Offsides	3
0	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
74.7	Passing Success	66.8
31	Tackles	17
71	Tackles Success	88.2
55.1	Possession	44.9
58.3	Territorial Advantage	41.7