Zlatkovski slows Norway progress

Norway missed the chance to draw level with the Netherlands at the top of Group 5 after their ten men were pegged back by F.Y.R. Macedonia in Skopje.

Bjørdal volley
The home side will be equally as frustrated after missing a number of chances to overtake Norway in the standings. F.Y.R. Macedonia started purposefully with forward Jovan Kostovski heading wide from close range and Zoran Zlatkovski firing wide from ten metres. But they were made to pay after 32 minutes when a Norway corner fell to Johan Lædre Bjørdal who volleyed in. Norway's chances of holding on were reduced when Arnar Førsund was shown the red card on the stroke of half time.

Lie clearance
Five minutes later the home side levelled when Norway goalkeeper Andreas Lie's clearance hit the head of Zlatkovski and flew into the empty net. Zlatkovski shot wide shortly after and Tore Andreas Gundersen went close for Norway before Oliver Peev was denied by Lie at the death. The result keeps Norway second in the group, two points behind leaders the Netherlands, with seven points from four games, with the home side two adrift.