Kyrgiakos breaks Norwegian resistance

Greece 1-0 Norway
A solitary goal from Greece defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos was enough to give his country victory against Norway in Crete.

Kyrgiakos decisive
John Arne Riise and Angelos Bassinas went close for Norway and Greece respectively early on but it was the home side that broke the deadlock. Kyrgiakos bundled the ball into the Norwegian net on 25 minutes after a Zisis Vryzas shot, set up by a Demis Nikolaidis pass, rebounded off the post. Manchester United FC striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær wasted Norway's best chance, shooting straight at Greek goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis five minutes later.

Greek lift
The result gives Greece a lift ahead of their next UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying match in Northern Ireland on 2 April - but Group 2 leaders Norway, who host Luxembourg on the same day, will take heart from a resilient performance played in driving rain.