NORWAY...........2

MALTA...............0

 

Norway: N. Haskjold, O. Elabdellaoui, E. Hovland, V. Forren, H. Aleesami,A. Tettey, S. Johansen, M. Henriksen, P. Skjelbred (M. Odegaard 53’), A. Soderlund (J. King 77’), J. Berget (V. Berisha 84’)

Malta: A. Hogg, A. Muscat (J. Zerafa 56’), A. Agius, S. Borg (R. Camilleri 83’), Z. Muscat, C. Failla, P. Fenech, R. Briffa, R. Muscat, A. Schembri (B. Kristensen 81’), A. Effiong

Scorers: A. Tettey 19, A. Soderlund 52’ (N)

Yellow Cards: R. Briffa 12’ (M)

Referee: Arnold Hunter (IRL)

Assistant Referees: Richard Storey, Gareth Eakin (IRL)

Additional Assistant Referees: Raymond Crangle, Mervyn Smith (IRL)

 

The prediction of the game surely wasn’t favourable to the Maltese side. The past meetings and yesterday’s game showed that the prediction didn’t fail. Norway dominated the game from the early going but after a satisfactory performance in the first half, the second goal killed the game.

The attacking line-up of Norway made severe damage as Soderlund dominated in the air as the main striker while Henriksen and Berget had a positive evening with the usual attacking system that of crossing from the flanks.

Despite that Malta could have done better in the game especially after the recent positive performances, one must not leave the positive performance yet again by goalkeeper Andrew Hogg who saved on various occasions alongside other players that tried to save the team’s total performance.

With this win, Norway moved closer to qualification with 19 points and play their last game against Italy while the Maltese side remain with two points.

As expected, Norway started the game on the attack and had a couple of chances in the early going from Hovland who missed the target after 5 minutes and five minutes later Henriksen had an effort on goal that was saved well by Hogg. The Norwegian side went again close on the 15th minute when from a Johansen corner, Hovland missed the target.

The goal had been in the air for some time and Norway almost took the lead when Henriksen passed to Berget who crossed to Soderlund who headed well but it was deflected to a corner by Alex Muscat.  But from the corner, Noeway broke the deadlock on the 19th minute when Even Hovland had a header blocked near the penalty area, the ball finished in the direction of Alexander Tettey who also had the first shot blocked by Hogg but the ball rebounded back and into the net.

Malta failed to react and on the 35th minute Soderlund headed back to Skjelbred who tried with a powerful shot from a central position that was saved well by Andrew Hogg. Per-Mathias Høgmo’s team went close again two minutes later when Soderlund connected from another cross but his header was blocked in front of goal. The Norway striker tried again on the 42nd minute with a personal action from the right side but final shot was too central and Hogg parried well.   

Pietro Ghedin’s side showed some hope just before half time when Alfred Effiong received a good ball after a mistake from the opponents defence, advanced but his left foot shot was tipped to a corner by Nyland.

But the half wasn’t over, as Norway continued to attack when from a cross from the right flank, the effort by Berget was saved by Hogg. Norway appealed for a penalty in the last action of the half after a contact between Elabdellaoui and Effiong but the referee wasn’t impressed.

Norway started the second half in search of the second goal which would give them a more comfortable and almost did it on the 47th minute but Forren hit the left upright from a corner. But on the 52nd minute Norway doubled their lead after a good action by Markus Henriksen who rounded Agius and crossed a low ball. As Hogg was ready to grab the ball, Steve Borg in an attempt to clear made a slight deflection that paved the way for Soderlund who had no trouble to score in an empty net.

Norway could have scored even the third goal three minutes later with a cross from the left side from Soderlund to the young substitute Odegaard who was unmarked but his low shot was incredibly saved by Hogg. The Real Madrid winger had a shot off target a minute later.

Malta never reacted and the opponents controlled easily after the second goal with no particular pressure to go forward with their only real action that came on the 74th minute when Henriksen crossed from the right in the penalty area but the header from Soderlund finished over the bar. As both teams were expecting the final whistle Malta tried to hold on not to concede more goals as they look forward for the final game against Croatia.