Singh shines in Norway triumph

Norway registered their first victory of 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 7 on a warm night in Famagusta.

Away win
Breakthroughs either side of the hour mark, first from Tarik Elyounoussi and then an own goal by Antonis Katsis, extended the visitors' lead after Harmet Singh had fired Norway in front on 29 minutes. Georgios Efrem reduced Cyprus's arrears ten minutes from time on but it was too late to prevent Øystein Gåre's team building on their draw with Slovakia in June and going top of the section.

Lively display
Norway immediately took a firm grip of proceedings with Cyprus No1 Tasos Kissas keeping out efforts from Peter Orry Larsen and Singh. The latter was proving difficult to contain and so it proved when he skipped past Kyriakos Pelentritis, cut in from the left and fired powerfully in off the post.

Consolation goal
After Panayiotis Panayiotou missed a chance at the beginning of the second half, Elyounoussi pounced on a slip at the back to double the lead with 58 minutes gone, before Nordtveit's shot deflected in off Katsis. Efrem finally got the hosts on the scoresheet with a penalty awarded for a trip by Nordtveit.