Friendly in Oslo, May 25, 1995 ============================== Norway - Ghana 3-2 (1-1) Ullevaal Att: 8312 1-0 Kjetil Rekdal (pen. 9) 1-1 Abedi Pelé (27) 2-1 Jan Åge Fjørtoft (50) 3-1 Fjørtoft (53) 3-2 Pelé (pen. 57) Yellow card: Henning Berg (52), Norway, Yaw Acheampong (41), Sam Johnson (54), Affo Dodoo (78), Ghana. Line-ups -------- Norway (3-5-2): Erik Thorstvedt - Henning Berg, Ronny Johnsen, Roger Nilsen - Jostein Flo (Ole Bjørn Sundgot from 78.), Lars Bohinen (Tore Pedersen from 74.), Kjetil Rekdal (Ståle Solbakken from 46.), Bent Skammelsrud, Jahn Ivar Jakobsen - Harald Brattbakk, Jan Åge Fjørtoft. Ghana (5-3-2): Nanabenyin Crenstil - Osei Kuffour - Sam Johnson, Affo Dodoo, Yaw Acheampong, Isaac Asare - Yaw Preko, Mallam Yahya, Charles Akonor - Abedi Pelé, Anthony Yeboah. Match report ------------ An open, entertaining, but not very good game. A draw would perhaps have been a fair result, as Ghana dominated in large periods. The African players were miles ahead of the Norwegians with regard to individual skill and pace, but equally behind in terms of defensive organization and team play. With this win, three new Norwegian national team records were set: The most wins in a row (7), the most games undefeated in a row (10), and the longest period of time without conceding a goal (10h 34mins). The latest Norwegian defeat was against Italy in the WC, whereas the latest point dropped was against the Dutch. However, after the "easy" game against Malta in two weeks time, tougher times await Norway, as France, 2xCzech Republic, Netherlands, England and 2xSpain will be their next opponents! The odds on staying undefeated after those games are not high :-) Then, to the game itself. Norway started brightly, taking the initiative and after only 9 minutes they were ahread. A cross was headed backwards by Flo into the penalty area. The Ghana goalkeeper grabbed the ball in the air with one hand, but then collided with Skammelsrud and lost the ball, which went straight to Fjørtoft. When he played it past the 'keeper, he was fouled by Crenstil. A clear penalty, but perhaps the goalkeeper should have had a freekick after the incident with Skammelsrud. Rekdal scored with ease from the spot. Norway continued to dominate and Mini had a good shot just over the crossbar. But then after 30 mins Ghana struck back. After a good run by Yaw Preko, who gave Roger Nilsen a difficult time throughout the game, he was brought down just outside the area. The resulting freekick from Abedi Pele went through a Swiss-cheese-like Norwegian wall, and into the net leaving Thorstvedt stranded. The equalizer cleatly lifted the visitors who dominated for the rest of the half, without creating too many chances. In the second half, Norway started as they did in the first. Within ten minutes they have scored twice and the game seemed all over. Both goals came after long throw-ins from Nilsen, aimed at Flo. In the first, the Ghana goalkeeper again was at fault, as he dropped the ball in a duel with Flo and an own defender. Fjørtoft said "Thank you", and side-kicked the ball into the open net. The second was more of a beauty, as Flo flicked the throw-in to the back post where Fjørtoft hit a first-time volley into the roof of the goal. This time the keeper had no chance. After these early strikes, the commentator talked about the game being over, but as he spoke Ghana got a penalty when Yeboah was held bak by Berg. The Norwegian was lucky not to see the yellow card for a second time in that situation. Agian, Abedi Pele stepped up and scored. The rest of the game Ghana pressed forward, squandering some very big chances, but Norway were still dangerous on the break, with Fjørtoft once hitting the post. In the end, Norway were a bit lucky to survive, but there wasn't any great unjustice done by the result. Of the Norwegian players, both Fjørtoft and Mini showed good form. Ronny Johnsen on the back was also excellent. He had the pace to match the Ghana players. For a change the rest of the defenders, and not to mention the midfield was awful, giving Ghana too much room and time on the ball. Nilsen at left back didn't put a foot right (except for the long throw-ins, but then he used his hands of course :-)), and was constantly overrun by Preko. Berg at right back wasn't much better. Perhaps he was still revovering from the Blackburn championship party :-) The game clearly showed that Norway are still not good enough to play a 3-5-2 formation when the opposition gets decent (i.e. not Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta). Expect a 4-5-1 formation both against the Czechs, and certainly against the Dutch. The midfield players were also having a bad day, with the exception of Flo and Mini. Bohinen was weak, and unusually for him made a lot of elementary mistakes with the ball. Skammelsrud was even worse, and it will probably last another two years until he gets another cap. Rekdal was also slow and unimaginative, and was replaced by Solbakken at half time. In the squad for the Malta game to be announced on Monday I expect Mykland to be back, unless he plays poorly in the premier division game on Sunday. Of the Ghana players, Abedi Pele was world-class in this match. His ball control and skill was excellent. Even the Norwegian players were impressed. Fjørtoft, who got his shirt after the game, told reporters that for the first time in his carrier, he had actually stopped up and admired an opponent during play. As already mentioned Yam Preko of Anderlecht wasn't bad either. He was extremely fast, and very difficult to stop for the Norwegian defenders. The other top international star, Anthony Yeboah, didn't imnpress me that much. He often lost the ball, when having it under control, but in glimpses you could see what good player he really is.