EC qualifier in Oslo, June 5, 1991 ================================== Norway - Italy 2-1 (2-0) Ullevaal Att: 27 500 1-0 Dahlum (4) 2-0 Bohinen (25) 2-1 Schillaci (79) Referee: M van der Ende, Netherlands. Yellow card: T Pedersen, Bohinen, Sørloth, Norway, Mancini, Ferrara, Italy. Red card: Bergomi, Italy. Line-ups -------- Norway (4-5-1): E Thorstvedt - T Pederen, P E Ahlsen, R Bratseth, P Lydersen - T A Dahlum (E Pedersen from 46.), L Bohinen, K P Løken, K Ingebrigtsen, J I Jakobsen - G Sørloth. Italy (4-4-2): W Zenga - F Baresi - C Ferrara, R Ferri (G Bergomi from 90.), P Maldini - A Lombardi, S Eranio, F De Napoli (S Schillaci from 53.), M Crippa - G Vialli, R Mancini. Match report ------------ It was with a strong feeling of confidence I entered the Ullevaal stadium on Wednedsday. Despite playing not too well Norway was unbeaten in the last seven matches under new coach Egil 'Drillo' Olsen although the opposition had been sides like Cyprus and Tunisia. Today we were up against one of the big ones : Italy. This would really test the strength of the Norwegian side. The stadium was sold out since Friday which means appr. 28000 people after the reconstruction last year. When I found my seat (too expensive in my opinion : 200 Nkr==19 pounds) in the Coca-Cola-curve I was met by the speakers voice announcing 3-0 for Norway against Italy (Olympic) in Stavanger. A few minutes later it was 4-0 and then 5 and finally 6-0. I couldn't believe what I heard. Although it was just an U21 / Olympic game , you don't very often hear about Italian sides at any level which let in six goals in a match. These announcement lifted the crowd and when the two teams entered the field a few minutes later a big roar went over Ullevaal stadium (normally Norwegians watching football are very quiet). The ground was in excellent condition though a ten minutes rain-shower three hours before the kick-off had made the pitch a bit slippery. Now it's time for the lineups. Since Italy was our guests I'll bring their lineup first: Zenga Ferrara Baresi Ferri (90.Bergomi) Lombardo Eranio De Napoli (53.Schillaci) Crippa Maldini Vialli Mancini Notice that Italy played without their midfield-stara Baggio, Giannini and Donadoni (all injured). then the Norwegian side: Thorstvedt T.Pedersen Bratseth Ahlsen Lydersen Dahlum (46.E.Pedersen) Bohinen Loeken Ingebrigtsen Jakobsen Soerloth Referee was Mario van der Ende from the Netherlands (who didn't perform very well !!) The match started slowly but after only 4 minutes a shot from Jakobsen was deflected by an Italian leg and went to a corner from the left hand side. Bohinen took it , two Italians jumped higher than any Norwegians of whom Vialli I guess managed to nodge the ball over to the right side , unfortuneately ( for Italy) straight to Dahlum who had no difficulty in putting the ball in the net with a half-volley shot from 5-6 metres. What a start !!! We all stood up and cheered, and someone behind me started shouting '6-0,6-0'. For the next ten minutes or so Italt took the initiative , had a lot of ball possesion, but never created any big opportunities. Norway looked dangerous on the counter-attacks. Then after 17 minutes a good through-ball from Baresi sends Mancini free on the left hand side with only the goalkeeper to beat. He is fouled from behind by Pedersen. A typical professional foul in my opinion. Fortuneately for us the weak referee only cautioned Pedersen despite strong Italian protests. If he had been sent off, it could have changed much of the game. A few minutes later Jakobsen sprints away from Ferrara who fouls him just outside the penalty-area , but the referee just waves play-on ! It smelled like compensation to me. Suddenly Bohinen anticipates a pass inside the Italian half. He takes the ball and starts running towards goal followed by Mancini. Just inside the penalty area it looks like he will attempt a shot but he doesn't. However this move fools Baresi who comes in from the left with a sliding- tackle. With only Zenga to beat he places the ball under him as he was on his way out trying to block the shot. A wonderful goal worthy of any occation and especially an important qualifying game. After 2-0 Italy maintain their ball-possesion and look more dangerous now especially on their left side where Mancini turns Pedersen inside out and deliver some good crosses. But the Norwegian defence looks solid to me, so the Italians doesn't create any clear chances except from a weak volley- shot from Vialli inside the area ,which he should have done better. After all he had only the goalkeeper to beat. Instead the ball just rolls in to Thorstvedt and the first half was over. At the interval Norway made one substitution. Dahlum , the goalscorer went out and Erik Pedersen a player with more defensive qualities came in to help T.Pedersen who had struggeled a bit in the first half. In the second half Norway cintinued to play very well actually better than before the break. We look in total control, but then suddenly Maldini is fouled by an outcoming Thorstvedt in the 56th minute. A clear penalty , but again Van der Ende waved play-on. A wrong desicion if you ask me. Beside from that opportunity it is Norway who creates the big chances. Ingebrigtsen is played through but with only Zenga to beat he fires a shot just outside the left post. 3-0 there and the Italians would have been dead and buried. Then a good cross from Lombardo on the left goes over the whole Norwegian defense including Thorstvedt to a completely free Schillaci (who had come in). He heads the ball easily in the net . At first I didn't think it was a goal because the crowd was completely silent, but then the referee pointed at the midfieldspot and we all realised that Italy had pulled one goal back to 2-1. The last ten minutes of the game was very nervous. Italy pushed forward and Schillaci again had a good scoring opportunitu as he wasted. On the other side Jakobsen should have put us 3-1 up but his chip over Zenga after a wonderful pass by Bohinen was saved on the line by Ferri who injured himself doing so. He was replaced by Bergomi who was sent off before even touching the ball. He fouled Pedersen and then stamped on his head. This time the referee was right. It was a ridiculous thing Bergomi did, probably in frustration over the defeat. After four minutes of added time Van der Ende descided enough is enough and blew his whistle. At that moment the stadium exploded and everyone cheered and waved with Norwegian flags as if it was our National Day. All the players made a lap of honour and Soerloth was interviewed by the speaker. Really a day to remember !!!