Euro 2004
qualifier
Spain 2 - Norway 1
Spain: Casillas,
Michel Salgado, Iván Helguera, Marchena, Puyol; Albelda, Baraja;
Etxeberría (Joaquín 76'), Raúl, Reyes (Vicente 76');
Fernando Torres (Valerón 68'). 4-2-3-1. Norway: Espen
Johnsen; Basma, Lundekvam, Henning Berg, Riise; Solli, Strand (Brattbakk 26'),
Trond Andersen, Martín Andresen (Runar Berg 85'); Iversen (Flode Johnsen
76'), Flo. 4-4-2.
Goals: 0-1. 13. Iversen.
First time volley past Casillas after Strand headed ball on. 1-1. 19.
Raúl. Headed inswinging Reyes free kick down into far corner of net.
2-1. 83. H. Berg (own goal). Turned ball in after Baraja played on
Joaquín cross.
Spain struggled to win the
first leg of their Euro 2004 play off against Norway, and only go into next
Wednesday's return match with a narrow lead thanks to a late own goal.
Iñaki Sáez opted for youth in his line up, with the on-form Reyes
joining Fernando Torres in attack, and it looked as though Spain were on the
right track when Torres broke free only to chip over the keeper but wide of the
net in the opening minutes. Raúl had a shot cleared by the defence and
Baraja shot wide on the follow up, and Torres had a penalty appeal turned down
when he fell under Lundekvam's challenge. But then disaster struck, and
virtually the first time that the Scandinavians entered the Spanish half they
scored, a long ball from the left being headed on by Strand for Iversen to
volley past Casillas.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers
striker had already scored once against Spain in the Euro 2000 finals, a goal
which sticks in the memory due to the mistake by Molina which cost him a place
in the side, and for a few minutes the home side were shell-shocked. But
eventually they recovered the momentum, and Raúl levelled the scores
with a glancing header from a Reyes free kick, the team captain's 36th goal for
his country.
For the rest of the first
half Spain were on top, and Johnsen produced a brilliant save, blocking a Reyes
effort with his body from point blank range. The visitors were always dangerous
on the counterattack though against a shaky defence, and Casillas rescued his
side when got a foot to a shot from Flo to turn it away for a corner. But just
before half time Albelda almost put his side in front with a long shot which
grazed the foot of the post.
Norway slowed the game down
though after the break as the rain fell, and Spain started to get bogged down.
Sáez turned to reinforcements, but much to the disappointment of the
crowd took off Torres to bring on Valerón. And it was not until
Joaquín and Vicente entered into the fray a quarter of an hour from the
end that they started to create some decent chances. Joaquín in
particular caused problems with his darting runs down the right wing, and on
one of those he fired in a low shot which Baraja played on, Henning Berg
turning the ball past his own keeper and in to the net.
After that it was a frantic
chase to score another goal to give them the edge for the second leg, but
Johnsen was having the game of his life and made an incredible double save from
Raúl near the end. The scoreboard reflected 34 shots from the locals and
only four from the visitors, but the scoreline was what counted and Spain now
face a very difficult second leg in the cold of Oslo next Wednesday. How they
wish they could have got one or two more to make that task a bit easier.
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