Northern Ireland 1 Norway 4: After two years and five days, or 1,299 minutes over 13½ matches, Northern Ireland finally scored a goal last night. David Healy got it in the 57th minute and the Northern Ireland fans went wild in a spirit of irony.
They were 3-0 down at the time and were about to score an own goal to make it 4-1 to Norway.
But Lawrie Sanchez's first game as manager will be recalled as much for Healy's goal - Northern Ireland's first since Steve Lomas scored against Poland in February 2002 - as for a heavy and humiliating defeat. There will also be those who remember it for the international debut of a 22-year-old from Tromso called Morten Pedersen who scored twice, the second a stunning volley.
But at least one of the "monkeys" to which Sanchez had referred has been removed from their backs. Now Northern Ireland must focus on a victory - the last was in October 2001 against Malta.
Norway were hardly out to help Northern Ireland either, lining up with Sigurd Rushfeldt as a lone striker. In the fifth minute, though, an unconfident punch by Thomas Myhre resulted in a goalmouth scramble and a free shot for Michael Hughes. He struck it well with his left foot but the ball met a wall of Norway defenders.
Norway quickly set about demonstrating their superiority, moving swiftly out of midfield to support Rushfeldt. He went close after seven minutes, and 10 minutes later was on hand to confuse Aaron Hughes and goalkeeper Maik Taylor. The ball ran loose to Pedersen and from eight yards he walloped it high into the net.
Before half-time matters were to get worse. Taylor made a smart save from Rushfeldt after a sharp knock-down from Steffen Iversen and in the 36th minute Pedersen made it 2-0 with a beautiful volley.
Martin Andresen supplied a chip over Chris Baird but Pedersen was 20 yards out on the angle of the box. But he met the ball on the volley and it swerved past Taylor into the far corner. And one minute before the interval Iversen drilled a shot on the run through Taylor's legs.
But finally, Keith Gillespie sent in a hopeful cross towards Healy, who found space to direct a firm header past Myhre. "Bring on the England" was the chant, but within 60 seconds Gillespie scored an own goal.
Typical, wait two years and then two come along at once.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor; Baird, Aaron Hughes, McCartney, Kennedy (Jones 77), Gillespie (McVeigh 73), Griffin (Williams 46), Johnson, Michael Hughes, Healy, Smith. Subs Not Used: Sonner, Whitley, Elliott. Booked: Gillespie. Goals: Healy 56.
NORWAY: Myhre (Holtan 70); Andresen, El Fakiri, Hangeland, Helstad (Hoiland 89), Hoseth, Iversen, Ronny Johnsen, Riise (Hanstveit 70), Rushfeldt (Haavard Flo 46), Pedersen (Odegaard 81). Subs Not Used: Tessem. Goals: Pedersen 17, 35, Iversen 43, Gillespie 57 og.
Referee: C Thomson (Scotland).
Guardian Service
