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So it is Austria that moves up to the A, but Norway only needed one goal to remain the group winner.
– A super experience. It’s weird that we didn’t win, but I’m incredibly proud of the spark and team morale, a moved team captain, Mats Møller Dæhli, told TV 2.
It was fully deserved when Norway took the lead after an hour of play. Jørgen Strand Larsen won a duel after a Norwegian throw-in, and Veton Berisha burst onto the death line before striking the ball diagonally onto the field. Ghayas Zahid arrived breaking between the passive Austrians and the open ball.
At the time, Norway only needed one goal to secure promotion to Division A and a likely additional chance to join the replay if the national team is unsuccessful in the qualifiers for the World Cup next year. It became too difficult when the forces were exhausted, but the team never gave up.
Per Kristian Bråtveit had a great opportunity to put Adrian Grbic on top of another goal in the 71st minute, but his shot went over the bar. David Alaba’s pass was almost over, but Bråtveit sacrificed himself and blocked.
Instead, Grbic scored the equalizer in the fourth minute of extra time.
– We let him in because we bet ahead. Five minutes before the end, we said “now let’s go for it”, although we didn’t have the strength left, Ruben Gabrielsen told TV 2.
Norway had to score at least two goals and win the match to become group champion and advance to division A. It seemed impossible when all the originally selected players ended up in the crown quarantine and were denied national team games, but the reserves exceeded all expectations and represented a Norwegian sporting achievement that will last for a long time.
Fandenivoldsk
Norway inclined defeat on the field, but with a devilish attitude. The national emergency team went straight to the throat of their much more deserving opponents. The first shot on goal came before a minute was played, the first corner kick before two were played, and while Austria had more of the ball, it was Norway who created the biggest chances.
When Austria inflicted Norway’s first home defeat to Lars Lagerbäck in September, aggression was rare on the Norwegian team. That was not the case on Wednesday. A compact Norwegian team played with great dueling power and made life uncomfortable for the home team.
In the first minute of the game, Berisha attacked down the right wing and played with striker Strand Larsen, who hit a shot from the 16-meter line. Goalkeeper Pavao Pervan had to go out in full force to keep the low shot.
Austria seemed surprised in the opening minutes, but played their way into the match. However, it was Norway that created the most, and in the 33rd minute, the Norwegian high pressure led to a conquest of the ball and a great opportunity. Sondre Tronstad won the ball from Marcel Sabitzer in the Austrian half and played Strand Larsen. The Groningen striker finished off the heavy pressure and saw Pervan put an arm on the ball to send it into the corner.
Possibilities
Three minutes later it was Jørgen Skjelvik who, after a good interaction with Berisha, came to an end in a good position. Pervan saved again, but returned directly to the field where Austria was cleared.
Berisha also had a chance before the break, when played by Mats Møller Dæhli, but the shot from an acute angle went to the corner via an Austrian heel.
The Norwegians worked well defensively and gave Austria few chances. Marko Arnautovic had the best, but Per Kristian Bråtveit punched in one attempt, while another went straight outside.
Norway continued to chase to score after the break. After 53 minutes, Strand Larsen’s captaincy was passed to Strand Larsen. He was pushed by Stefan Ilsanker and ended up lopsided off the longest post. If he had fallen to the ground, Norway probably would have received a penalty.
Ruben Gabrielsen took over the captaincy when an empty Dæhlie left the field midway through the second half. The midfielder was one of 11 Norwegian rookies on Wednesday (six from the start, five substitutes) and one of 17 Norwegian “emergency national team players” (including two unused reserves) who can be proud of the effort.
