Moen the man for Norway
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Article summary
Moldova 1-3 Norway Petter Vaagan Moen puts Norway ahead late on as they secure three vital points.
Article body
Second-half action
Norway had started their Group 5 campaign with two defeats but have now gone three games unbeaten following this success at the Dinamo stadium in Chisinau. Lars Iver Strand broke the deadlock in the 54th minute and, for a long time, it appeared that would be good enough for all three points.
Moen decisive
However, Moldova equalised through Igor Picustac in the 81st minute, a goal that looked like making it five points from five matches for both teams. However, Ham-Kam Fotball midfield player Petter Vaagan Moen struck a superb goal in the 84th minute before Bjørn Helge Riise - brother of Liverpool FC's John Arne - completed the victory in the dying sconds.
On the up
Norway move up to second place - enough for a play-off berth - but are still eight points adrift of leaders Italy. However, they are now three points clear of Moldova and one point ahead of Belarus, who denied Slovenia a chance to return to the runners-up position today with a 4-1 win in Ljubljana.
