Malta 0

Norway 3

Malta: J. Haber (S. Darmanin), J. Chetcuti, I. Azzopardi, D. Carabott (P. Pullicino), B. Said, S. Wellman (M. Grima), G. Agius (K. Sammut), J. Pace, A. Cohen, I. Woods (S. Giglio), G. Mallia (E. Barbara).

Norway: E. Johnsen, A. Bergdolmo, E. Hagen, C. Lundekvam, J. A. Riise, T. Helstad, P. Rudi, M. Hoset, M. G. Pedersen, S. Iversen, J. Carew. Subs: S. Stensaas, S. Rushfeldt, R. Kviskvik, A. Karadas, H. El Fakiri.

Referee: D. Malcolm (N. Ireland). Asst refs: I. Spiteri, K. Borg. 4th official: L. Sammut.

Scorers: Rushfeldt 70, 80, Riise 82.

Three goals in the final 20 minutes gave Norway a handsome win over Malta yesterday at Ta’ Qali but the slippery conditions on the change of ends had a telling effect on the locals.

In fact, the Norwegians showed their superiority in the second half when they made it evident that they were playing ‘in their own conditions’.

But one cannot really make a proper assessment of the side after so many substitutions in the second half, as well as those who missed the match through injury or lack of full fitness.

For Malta, David Carabott, who is now playing for Gozo’s Ghajnsielem, was making his final appearance after earning 122 caps in an illustrious career. It was the first time that a player on the books of a Gozitan club, was captaining the Malta national team. Before the match, he was presented with a memento by the president of the MFA, Dr Joe Mifsud.

In the first half, Norway had a fast start as they tried to unsettle the Maltese with an early goal, but somehow or other, the boys in red withstood the assault and by time, they started growing in confidence, so much that they even shared the exchanges and created some good opportunities as well.

But in the opening 30 minutes, the team appeared to be lacking cohesion as Agius, Mallia, Woods and Pace were finding it difficult to get to grips in midfield and it was at the back where Malta seemed to be playing well with Brian Said, Ian Azzopardi and Jeffrey Chetcuti showing steadiness and Haber inspiring his team-mates with some neat handling.

When Haber was injured, nothing appeared to have changed as his substitute, Birkirkara team-mate Saviour Darmanin, played with the same confidence.

In the second half, a lot of substitutions were made but Norway kept a firm control of midfield and were now more dangerous than the Maltese in their attacks as the field became much more slippery due to the continuous downpour.

It was no surprise that they eventually took the lead on 70 minutes and the Norwegians and went on to consolidate their lead with two other goals in the final ten minutes.

After eight minutes, Malta had a good effort when Carabott received from Agius to cross into the Norwegian area where Helstad anticipated Andrew Cohen in extremis.

Three minutes later, it was Gilbert Agius who tried his luck from outside the area, but his low effort went wide.

On 16 minutes, Helstad went past the Maltese defence in a brilliant slalom in the area, but his final effort was saved by Haber and Chetcuti quickly booted the ball out to safety.

In the 24th minute, Saviour Darmanin took the place of the injured Justin Haber. the latter was taken to hospital for an X-Ray, but it was probably not a serious injury as at first thought.

Six minutes later, Cohen forced Norway goalie Johnsen into a good save and on 35 minutes, following a perfect Agius pass, David Carabott’s cross-shot did not pass far away from goal.

On the 39th minute, the Norwegian goalie was a protagonist as he dived sideways to tip to corner an Agius low shot.

Another good move arrived on 43 minutes, when Jamie Pace set Cohen on the left. The Hibs striker crossed into the area but a good Woods header was well saved by the goalie.

Early in the second half, in the 52nd minute, Norway went close through a Pedersen freekick which passed across goal. Soon after a Stensaas shot was turned to corner by Darmanin. From the resultant corner, the goalie again did quite well in saving John Carew’s header destined for the back of the net.

At the other end, on the 60th minute, off a Mallia freekick, cohen’s excellent header was splendidly turned to a corner by goalie Johnsen.

Norway almost opened the scoring on 65 minutes when off a Pedersen cornerkick, Rushfeldt’s header was cleared from over the line by Pullicino.

Norway finally broke the deadlock on 70 minutes when off a Rudi cross, the Maltese defence failed to clear and Sigurd Rushfeldt was on hand to beat Darmanin from close in.

With 10 minutes to go, Norway scored their second goal through Rushfeldt after Jeffrey Chetcuti mishit the ball in the area.

Two minutes later, Liverpool’s Arne Riise scored the third – a gem of a goal. He received a low corner 20 metres out and let loose a fine dipper that had Darmanin beaten all ends up.

On the 85th minute, Cohen worked his way into the area, but his shot was saved on deck by Johnsen.

Five minutes later, Riise again went close with a low effort that went just wide of the right upright.