EC qualifier in Oslo, September 7, 1994 ======================================= Norway - Belarus 1-0 (0-0) Ullevaal Att: 16 739 1-0 1-0 Frigård (88) Referee: G Goethals, Belgium. Yellow card: Gerasimets (73), Antonovitsj (86), Belarus. Line-ups -------- Norway (4-5-1): F Grodås - P Lydersen, H Berg, T Pedersen, S I Bjørnebye - J Flo (G Frigård from 70.), E Mykland, K Rekdal, L Bohinen (Ø Leonhardsen from 46.), J I Jakobsen - J Å Fjørtoft. Other results in group 5 ------------------------ Czech Republic - Malta 6-1 Luxembourg - Netherlands 0-4 Match report ------------ Pheeew!! This match was more close than expected. I had almost given up when substitute Frigard scored the winning goal two minutes from time. It all started so well. In the first ten minutes Norway were all over Belorussia, pressing high and forcing errors from the visitors. Fjortoft should have had a penalty in the 5th minute when he was dragged down, but overdid the falling, so the ref said no. Minutes later Bohinen had a good header just over. But then it all died away. The pressure was lower, the really good chances far between. After a corner Rekdal had two shots saved off the line, and Flo could have scored with a shot from the right hand side of the penalty area, after what was the best attack of the day. But that was just about all in the first half, despite 90% posession of the ball. The Belorussian players seemed content to sit back and go for a 0-0 draw. However, they created perhaps the best opportunity of that half minutes before the break, when Antonovich broke through after neat passing. His shot though, was saved by the right leg of Grodaas, who else had absolutely nothing to do. Leonhardsen came in for Bohinen at half time, but the pattern of the game was the same. Despite relentless pressure, the final pass was either too late or too inaccurate. Norway didn't have the creativity to break through a ten-man defense. This can't come as a big surprise to the close folowers of Norwegian football, as they always have troubles when they are expected to lead and dominate a game. However, there were a few good chances. An indirect free-kick (keeper handling a back pass) was hit straight at the wall, Rekadal came close with another shot and also Mykland could have scored after dribbling past a few Belorussians. Then, 20 minutes from time Flo was substituted by Frigard, and the system changed from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 in a last desperate attempt to score a goal. Howver, the pattern didn't change, instead the back four began panicking and just kicked high balls up front, even when not being pressureised by the Belorussian players. Of course high balls towards Mini is obviously not a good way of attacking :-( Frigard didn't touch the ball much, but when he did he was dangerous. 12 minutes from time, Mini crossed and Frigard sent the header at the post. After that we were all expecting the 0-0 draw, which would have been a huge injustice, and an even larger failure. But we hadn't counted on Frigard. Two minutes from time, another cross from Rekdal, and the KIL-player directed his header into the far corner. What a relief! How I saw the Norwegian team: Grodaas: Didn't have almost anything to do, and what he did he did well. Lydersen: He is fast, but his passing left a lot to be desired. Far too often he sent the ball to a Belorussian or sent aimless balls towards their penalty area. Pedersen: Had a sold come-back, but has never been a conctructive defender, and this match was no exception. Berg: The successor to Rune Brathseth as the chief of the Norwegian defense lived up to the expectations, and was outstanding, even though the Belorussian attack was too weak to prove a real test. Contrary to the other players at the back, his passes also hit a Norwegian player with a frequency higher than 0.5 :-) Bjornebye: A solid game defensively, but again bad passing, and also surprisingly bad kicks on set-pieces (especially corners). Flo: The giant was no giant in terms of play yesterday. He lost surprisingly many duels in the air after mistiming, and when we all know what he is like on the ground I think you can figure out the rest. He is simply out of form. Mykland: He was the driving force in midfield and possibly the best player on the field. Worked well, good passes etc. Bohinen: Another player totally out of form. No wonder he doesn't get to play much in Nottm. Forest. His first three passes all went either out of the field or to a Belorussian player, and he kept that standard throughout the only half he was allowed to play. Substituted by Leonhardsen. Rekdal: Not one of his best game either. His trademark, simple passes, was not seen much. However, he had half of the few scoring opportunities Norway had, but couldn't convert any of them. Mini: Another bad performance from him. He always seems to run himself into trouble after receiving a pass. Don't understand why he chooses to drible past two-three defenders every time, instead of passing the ball. Fjortoft: Played a good first half, but faded in the second. One problem was the lack of suport he received. Once he got the ball, he was quickly surrounded by two-three defenders and thereby often lost the ball. Leonhardsen: Replaced Bohinen at half time, but didn't play much better than the Forest-player. As always he covered a lot of ground, but never posed a threat to the Belorussian defenders. Frigard: Played only 20 minutes, so it is difficult to judge him. But when the man score the winning goal and also hit the post you can't be too criticial, can you. The Belorussian line-up: Sjantalosov - Gurenko - Sosnitskij, Khatskevich, Yakimovich, Zygmantovich - Antonovich, Markhel, Gerasimets, Metlitskij - Kulanin (Katsjuro in second half). I can't say much about this team as I don't know the players. The keeper looked ok, Zygmantovich was solid in defense and the small number 7 (Antonovich) was very quick. The team will hopefully pose problems for other teams in the group and the away-game in November will not be easy as Belorussia are far better than the likes of San Marino or Liechtenstein, even though it is no team that will be playing in the EC in England in 1996.