Scotland hit late double to come back and stun Norway
Scotland travelled to Oslo looking to continue their perfect start to ECQ against Norway who had already stuttered with only one point from their first two games.
However, Norwegian morale may have been boosted by Scotland’s previous trip to face the Scandinavian side, where they lost 4-0 in 2009.
The hosts may have controlled the early exchanges, but against a side who only had 33 per cent of the possession in their 2-0 win over Spain in March, it didn’t come as much of a surprise or concern to Steve Clarke’s men.
Scotland started to make inroads into the hosts’ box just past the half-hour mark, but with very little success, as both sides continued to cancel each other out.
Both sides were hoping for a better attacking showing in the second half, with only one shot on target in the first 45 minutes. John McGinn looked to try and spark the visitors into life with a shot from distance, but his effort failed to challenge Ørjan Nyland as it was straight down the middle.
Just before the hour mark, there was controversy as Jack Hendry seemed to have brought down Erling Haaland in the box, but the appeals from the hosts fell on deaf ears.
After getting away from the previous penalty shouts, Scotland were once again under scrutiny as Ryan Porteous pulled the jersey of an opposing player. Referee Matej Jug pointed to the spot, with Haaland firing Norway into the lead. This seemed to inspire the Scandinavians, as they continued to push for a second goal.
Yet, just as it looked like Norway had all three points secured Dykes appeared late in the Norway box to slot home a loose high ball.
Straight from kick-off, the visitors went back up the field with Dykes playing a pivotal role again, as his calm pass across the Norway box was sent into the same corner of the goal by Mclean.
Norway will be left frustrated by letting the lead slip so late on, as their hopes of ending a 24-year wait to play at the Euros took another huge dent.
Meanwhile, Scotland make it three wins from three and stay top of Group A, with Clarke looking likely to become the second Scottish manager to take the team to back-to-back Euros since Craig Brown.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Erling Haaland (Norway)
