Norway continue good form

Norway’s recent good form continued with a 1-0 friendly victory against Austria – for whom Andreas Herzog became the first man to win 100 caps.

Experimental lineups
With both coaches fielding largely experimental sides in Vienna, play was not always fluent, but the new lineups acquitted themselves well in an even match.

Austrian chance
Herzog was withdrawn on 62 minutes, and soon afterwards his replacement Markus Weissenberger made Austria’s best chance, supplying Roman Wallner, who shot wide.

Late winner
But it was the visitors, top of UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying Group 2 with seven points from three games, who secured the only goal when striker Tore André Flo, returning to the squad after eight months, hit the post and Gambian-born substitute Pa-Modou Kah was first to the loose ball to score with eight minutes remaining.

Krankl regrets loss
Austrian coach Hans Krankl, who side have won two and lost one of their three qualifiers, said after the game: "It is a shame we lost, a 0-0 result would have been more representative. We played too little up front, took too few risks, and maybe we were too defensive".