Norway 1 Scotland 2 – Tartan Army celebrate historic comeback as Dykes and McLean stun Haaland and co in Oslo
NEVER mind Erling Haaland, Scotland’s players score and party when they want.
After Istanbul, Ibiza and Manchester, the lethal Haaland thought he’d set up another big evening of celebrating in Oslo with a penalty kick with just half an hour left.
But just when we began to think it was looking a lost cause up popped Lyndon Dykes and sub Kenny McLean to magnificently net twice within two last gasp minutes.
And now the Euro 2024 finals are beckoning for 100-per-cent record Scotland.
Three qualifiers, three wins and on Tuesday night against Georgia at Hampden we’ll go for four successive for the first time in our international history.
Take a bow Steve Clarke’s Dark Blue heroes.
Two and a half months since we marvellously took care of top seeds Spain at Hampden boss Clarke picked a side with 10 survivors, with Jack Hendry in for the crocked Grant Hanley.
This was a confident Scots side which took to a sticky pitch at the 28,000-sold-out Ullevaal Stadium in sweltering heat which peaked at 31-degrees for kick-off.
And they were fully entitled to have their chests puffed out – a storming two game winning start to Group A to extend to six matches our unbeaten competitive record, with five of those victories.
That said, our last match for real in Norway – at this very venue in 2009 – produced a 4-0 thrashing which crushed World Cup qualifying hopes.
Back then Haaland was only a skinny, little nine-year-old kid.
Now he was a formidable Viking intent on pillaging and plundering the Scots defence for a manager, Stale Solbakken, who had absolutely no problem with his epic celebrating for three days after Champions League glory with Man City.
Haaland’s delivered a breathtaking 58 goals from 59 games for club and country over 12-months – but had managed just one from his previous eight matches.
Bang out of form and still hungover?
How we desperately hoped.
Haaland wasn’t but he still ended up nursing a thumping headache.
The Scots appeared more set-up for a containment job and a draw.
But that was fine, although with the Norwegians under severe pressure after just a point from their two section games it would’ve been nice to see us being a bit more assertive.
That said, such was the baking temperature there was also a need to be sensible with energy use.
Just thirty seconds in there was a slight heart-in-mouth moment when it appeared Alexander Sorloth was in behind from a searching Stefan Strandberg through ball – but Scots keeper Angus Gunn was sharp of his line to gather.
Haaland – his first international on home soil for a year – didn’t get a meaningful touch until the fifth minute, good close control and lay-off – but Scotland were calm and composed all over the pitch.
However, out of nowhere in the 14th minute they should’ve fallen behind, with Ola Solbakken’s terrific hung-up cross to the far post met by an unmarked Sorloth – but his point-blank header was straight at Gunn.
He had to score and it was a massive let-off.
Scotland hadn’t really been a threat until the 23rd minute when skipper Andy Robertson produced a trademark storming run down the flank, bursting past Julian Ryerson, and sending in a cross for Ryan Christie in the box to flick past his marker but then see home No1 Orjan Nyland rush out to smother.
Then, 10 minutes from the break, a Christie cross was knocked down by Robertson for John McGinn to have a goal-bound shot which Strandberg brilliantly blocked.
Hendry took a great booking for the team in the 40th minute, clearly having his arms round Haaland and bringing him down just as the £52 million phenomenon looked to burst through towards the Scots box from a Martin Odegaard ball over the top.
At this point you could easily see why we hadn’t conceded against Cyprus and Spain.
But it wouldn’t last.
Norway started strongly after the break, Haaland rolling Hendry before feeding Solbakken wide and the winger promptly firing a right foot shot which Gunn held low down to his left.
Scotland, though, responded with a McGinn effort from distance which a far from convincing Nyland spilled before collecting.
Ref Matej Jug was giving the Scots very little – but there was cause to thank him in the 54th minute as he refused to bow to pressure from home penalty appeals after Hendry tangled with Haaland in the box.
The bustling frontman briefly went down but quickly got back up on his feet and that honesty probably cost him.
It was, though, an anxious moment.
Jug infuriated with his constant free-kick calls for Norway, ignoring several justifiable Scots claims.
And on the hour he acted in favour of the home side again, although this time he was bang on with his spot-kick call.
Porteous completely lost Haaland in the box from another superb Sorloth cross, hauling him down and leaving whistler Jug with no choice.
There was also a card for the Watford stopper to keep him out of the Georgia game – then a TRIPLE whammy of seeing Haaland drilling his penalty beyond Gunn.
The excellent Sorloth went so close to a second for Norway with a deflected 70th minute shot an inch past the far post as the Scots began to wilt.
Seven minutes from the end of normal time Haaland was hooked and he strolled off to a standing ovation.
But the Norwegians were silenced by first an 87th minute equaliser from Dykes – his ninth for Scotland – as he took advantage of Leo Ostigard blunder, then an 89th minute winner by Mclean as he calmly slotted home from close range.
Cue bedlam in the Scotland.
One of our all-time great wins clutched from the jaws of defeat.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page