FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°35
Norway came from behind with two late goals to beat world champions Brazil 2-1 and qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup after a dramatic encounter here at the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday.
The Scandinavians, who will play Italy in the second round, needed victory to qualify with Morocco leading Scotland in Group A’s other match and they seemed to be on their way out after going behind to a 79th minute goal by Bebeto.
But Egil Olsen’s side, who battled furiously all night, hit back in stunning fashion to rock the tournament’s hot favourites – who lost for the first time in a World Cup finals since Argentina beat them in the second round of the 1990 World Cup – and Norway now reach the second stage of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Tore Andre Flo was the inspiration as he levelled the scores with a brilliant individual effort in the 83rd minute, cutting inside Junior Baiano on the left of the area and burying a low shot in the corner.
Then to the Brazilians’ astonishment, American referee Esfandiar Bahamast pointed to the spot after Flo went down in the area under a challenge by Junior Baiano, although his fellow defender Goncalves started shaking his head because he thought it had been given for him handling the ball.
The 65,000 crowd fell silent as Kjetil Rekdal placed the ball on the spot before lashing it into the back of the Brazilian net to seal a remarkable fightback and leaving the Brazilians stunned.
The result was no more than Norway deserved after a battling performance in which they took the game to the South Americans, who had promised to be competitive but rarely showed the class which has made them favourites to retain their trophy.
Brazil showed two changes from the team that beat Morocco 3-0 with Denilson coming in for the suspended Cesar Sampaio in midfield, and Goncalves for Aldair – who has one yellow card – in the centre of defence.
Norway, who beat Brazil 4-2 last year, welcomed back Liverpool star Oyvind Leonhardsen for Staale Solbakken in midfield, but stuck with their usual 4-5-1 formation with Chelsea’s Tore Andre Flo the only striker.
The world champions mounted the first serious attack on goal when full-back Roberto Carlos crossed from the left for Ronaldo, who was flagged off-side as he volleyed into the side netting. Carlos’s speed was unsettling for the Norwegian defence and moments later he burst into the area and fired in a low cross which the Norwegian defence scrambled clear for a corner.
And it was the stocky Real Madrid defender who produced the first shot on target when he lined up a free-kick from fully 35 yards out, evoking memories of his stunning goal against France in last summer’s Tournoi. His bending left-foot effort whistled past the Norwegian wall and was only kept out by an acrobatic save by Frode Grodas diving high to his right.
Norway kept their composure and grew in confidence as Brazil struggled to break down their well-organised defence.
The Scandinavians enjoyed a 10-minute period when they swept upfield in a series of counter-attacks with Tore Andre Flo and his cousin Havard Flo both going close with long range efforts.
Norway went on the attack from the start of the second period, but it was Brazil who had the best chance to take the lead when Rivaldo got on the end of Carlos’s whipping cross only to see his header bounce over the bar.